Your call is important to us, says the voice from the call centre. Then you hear some canned music interrupted by a few advertisements, and then urging you to hold until the next operator is available.
I dont know how you feel when this happens, but I am always convinced the operators would be happy if I hung up. One less call to bother with. Is it any wonder we feel like were just part of the background one of the crowd objects on an assembly line going who knows where?
But is that how God sees us? Does he watch as each of his creations moves inexorably along the conveyer belt of life heading for a final destination which is known only to him?
The Bible presents a very different picture. Far from being a disinterested observer, God is deeply concerned with our lives. Each of us is a unique creation and he has a very special purpose for everyone.
In Jeremiah 18, God calls himself the potter, and human beings the clay. If we consider how a potter works with clay, its easy to see the connection. He is shaping and moulding each of his zillions of special creations to fulfil a purpose in eternity. He plans each creation exactly as he desires, and even re-makes some of them by rolling the whole clay mass together and completely re-shaping it. The prophet Jeremiah had to go to the potters house to get a message from God. The pot the man was shaping was marred in his hands, so he formed it into something else. (Jeremiah 18:4).
About three and a half thousand years ago, God planned to release his people Israel from slavery in Egypt. But in order to do this for his own glory, he hardened Pharaohs heart. No amount of miraculous signs and wonders would change this mans mind, and God knew it. Pharaoh was an instrument of dishonour. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster. I the Lord do all these things (Isaiah 45:7)
Permanent changes
As God calls us into his service, he moulds and shapes us to fit a particular role. The Apostle James assures us that the testing of our faith develops perseverance, and perseverance must complete its work so that we may be mature and complete (James 1:2, 3). An interesting parallel in the art of pottery is that at a certain stage it has to be fired in a kiln where it is heated to a high temperature to induce reactions that lead to permanent changes, including increasing the strength and hardening and setting the shape of the artefacts.
The Apostle Peter was impulsive, perhaps even a little presumptuous. He jumped out of the boat without thinking and began to sink. His pride wouldnt allow Jesus to wash his feet, but when he understood what it was all about, he wanted an entire body wash! Yet on the day of Pentecost he amazed everyone with his deep understanding of the salvation offered to both Israel and Gentiles. Tradition has it that he was finally crucified upside down.
Pauls Christian journey started with him hating and persecuting Christians. When God called him into service, it wasnt with just an idea or a faint whisper, or even some inspired preaching. It was with a blinding flash of light from heaven and a voice telling him to pick himself up, go to Damascus and await instructions as to how he would serve Jesus. God had a no nonsense way of dealing with Saul of Tarsus. The events that followed reveal how God worked in his life, all the while accompanied by amazing miracles as well as fiery trials. Paul was a totally transformed man when he finally gave his life for his Saviour.
The way God works with us might also be compared to a work of art. When we stand close up to a beautiful painting, we cannot see the whole picture, but instead we see strokes of colour which dont seem to have much relationship to what the picture is supposed to portray. As we move away, we gradually gain perspective. Those brush marks take on meaning and become an essential part of the artwork. As time passes we can more clearly see Gods hand in our lives.
No, God is not in the business of cloning billions of human beings and putting them all into little boxes. No two of us are exactly alike, and each of us has a special destiny. Our Creator is unlimited in his creativity, and it is all to his glory. He says the heavens (the entire universe) are his throne and the earth his footstool (Isaiah 66:1).
How privileged we are to be part of such a wonderful plan.
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