The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying, “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will announce My words to you.” Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make. (Jeremiah 18:1-4)

Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.” (Jeremiah 18:5-6)

At what point in a civilization does God say, “The vessel I am making has become spoiled in my hands. I will remake it into another vessel, as it pleases me?” Who can say for sure? More often than not, I’m just living my life a day at a time, trying to be present to God and to others. What is it though that my presence conveys? Does my life communicate that we should eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die? Or, stop, drop and roll because we are on fire? Perhaps we should repent so that the ship will not hit the iceberg after all? No doubt you can find a TV preacher right now, mopping his brow, teaching these or any number of other certainties about God’s plans. I think I must be damaged goods because I cannot bear to watch the show. 

While I feel as though America is working overtime to qualify as problematic clay, I don’t know God’s plans for her. Perhaps he still sees her beauty as something yet to emerge from his hands. Rather than give up, agreeing with fatalistic notions about ourselves and this nation, I am inclined to take the approach Abraham took with God regarding Sodom, “Lord, will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” The presumption of Abraham is stunning and attractive! Listen to how friends of God think;

Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly? (Genesis 18:25)

Abraham is practically scolding God! He then proceeds to negotiate for the salvation of a city – one just begging for fire and brimstone. This should be our strategy as well as children who are welcome in his throne room. If you have trouble picturing this, envision (or look up) the picture of John Kennedy’s children running loose in the Oval Office. 

I love it when my children are at ease with me, resting confidently in my love for them. I’m certain God is like this. He wants us to ask big things of him – things on scale with his nature and his dreams for the world; “God I was worthy of judgement and you saved me. Do this for my nation as well! Far be it from you Lord to slay the righteous with the wicked.” Abraham didn’t know he would get God down to 10 righteous men from 50. And, we don’t know that God will not relent and pour out his Spirit on this nation. Perhaps we have not because we ask not.

We may be thinking of ourselves as the great and mighty United States while God views us in an entirely different light. Our sins are accumulating before him along with an inevitable reaping. Will our consequence be a fatal one or will it be a correction that we heed? Fortunately with God, where sin abounds, his grace may abound all the more. We must bring ourselves to remembrance that our God is a good God, who desires, more than we, to seek and to save that which is lost.

Excuse me while I damp my brow but God has said he desires that none should perish! He has said that all things are possible with him! He parts oceans and draws camels through the eyes of needles! He tells us we have what we ask of him when we pray and that he will give us the desire of our hearts! How do we possibly get off concluding that the judgement on our nation is a forgone conclusion! Would it not be more appropriate, for friends (as he has called us) to ask God to complete the good work that he began in America rather than scrapping us? Why not ask God to expose and to heal the very deepest sins of our nation? Who knows, perhaps he would just like to keep this clay on the wheel.

I believe God wants us to rediscover our life which is in him alone and simple devotion to him and to each other until he comes and deals with the nations as he may. We do not have to worry about anything more than a sparrow or a Lillie does. Rueben P. Job had three simple rules: 1) Do no harm. 2) Do good. 3) Stay in love with God. This is a great battle plan. May it go viral.

Father, may our ears be tuned in. May our hearts be tuned up – that we may be responsive to this world through your love. May an accumulation of the good deeds which you have prepared for us beforehand, take on a life of their own and sweep over our nation as a great wave of righteousness. Teach us to be childlike in our presumption about your goodness. May we think and behave as children who have great faith in their Father. As it please you Lord. Amen.

Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap