8 October 2021
Anglican Orthodox Worldwide Communion
1.The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2. Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. 3.Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. 4.And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. 5.Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 6.O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. 7.At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; 8.If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. 9.And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; 10.If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them. (Jer 18:1-10)
The biblical text above is an Old Testament Parable having reference to nations who are either blessed or cursed depending upon their righteousness (or evil) in the eyes of God. Such a strong statement of God gives me pause for remorse for this great nation in view of the wickedness which we have not only condoned, but elevated to power by our votes. But this Parable has a double application – it applies, not only to nations but, to individuals. Just as our Heavenly Father has blest and prospered the foundation of this nation as a free people having personal rights AND OBLIGATIONS, He has also blessed those called and chosen of God to be blessed by that “perfect law of Liberty” available only through Jesus Christ. When a nation turns from that Godly heritage and annuls the Covenant with her God, she is destined for a precipitous fall. The same is true with those who have turned to Christ in word, and then apostatized from Him in action.
The character of a nation is determined by that character and Godliness of her people. If those, who are called by His name, do not humble themselves and pray, and repent them of their sins, He will not answer in the dark and dreary day that surely lies ahead. The emblem of America is the great Eagle. This bird is the King of the Heavens. It flies high and has penetrating vision. It fights for its food and cares for its young. It will not eat that which has been killed by another beast. This is the character of the America of our Founding Fathers. The Oyster, on the other hand, has no such valiant spirit. It cannot fly; it cannot even swim; but is carried along by the drifts and tides of the sea. It does not seek out its provision but, instead, lies on the sea floor and eats whatever refuse happens to fall into its shell where it hides continually. The Oyster is becoming more the symbol of modern America than the Eagle. Will you pray that the Potter will mar the ugly vessel we have become and remake us in the character of the free and high-flying Eagle?
Jesus is the Maker of all things. He was present with the Father and the Holy Ghost at the moment of Creation. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1-3) He is the Potter in whose hands we are the clay. He selects the clay carefully to insure, first of all, that it is truly clay. He then inspects it for quality and pliability. He then places it on His Potter’s Wheel and begins to form a vessel of clay for His particular purpose. If the clay completely surrenders to the Potter’s touch, it will soon be a vessel worthy of the Master’s House; but if it dries too soon and becomes hardened, the Potter will mar the clay and begin anew. If the clay becomes set, dried, and unmanageable, the Potter will discard it and choose another lump of clay. Or, else, He will crush it into another lump and remake it under the stress and pressures of tribulation. America has been that choice clay in the Hand of the Potter. He formed it and shaped it into a most peculiar vessel possessing beauty and utility that no other nation on earth has ever possessed. But, over time, impurities inconsistent with freedom and liberty have seeped into the clay disfiguring it and rendering it useless for its intended purpose. But these impurities did not seep in from some foreign source – they have come in through the weaknesses and frailties of her citizens who have adopted an appearance of godliness, but denied the power thereof.
Since when have we been counseled to lay aside our faith and values at the curtain of the voting booth? Since when have we been told by God to disregard His Commandments in favor of those of Caesar? There is a hierarchy of laws that descend from the Law of God down to man and human government. We are to be good and law-abiding citizens until such time as the laws of human government conflict with those of God’s government. We are not to bear allegiance to laws at enmity with that law of God. Even our Republic and her Constitution provide for such a hierarchy of laws. City and state law is subordinate to National laws, and National laws are subordinate to the Law of the Land – the Federal Constitution. That Federal Constitution cannot override the moral law of God for the Christian – else we are slaves to such a government. Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding? (Isaiah 29:16) Our country faces severe pains and hurt ahead. It will not ease in the least, but only grow more and more severe. We have sinned against God with our eyes open. He will mar us and make us over into another nation bearing the fruits of His promise. Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. (Jer 18:2-6) We ignore the ominous clouds of darkness to our peril. Arise from your stupor, O people of God. Stand again in Light of that City not built with hands!
It does not take a professed prophet to forecast the doom we are bringing upon ourselves and our children if we continue to defy the Hands that made us. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Gal 6:7) A cursory study of Holy Scripture reveals the consequences and judgment that falls upon a people and nation who have known God, and then turn away from Him. We have known the blessings and fruits of Liberty granted unto our Land by a Beneficent Father. Shall we forever turn away and drink from His Cup of Wrath at the eventide of all nations?
