Jars of Clay

Reading in 2 Corinthians 4 today and thought it was interesting how Paul likens us to a jars of clay.  Furthermore, he notes that we have a treasure in the jar of clay.

Other analogies that Paul reveals in this passage are that we are outwardly wasting away, yet being renewed inwardly.  That we are hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, struck down but are not crushed, or in despair, abandoned nor destroyed. He mentions that we carry around the death of Christ so that His life may also be revealed in us.  "Death is at work in us, but life is at work in you."

These opposites circled around for me until I imagined a visual.  I've taken ceramics and created pottery pieces, so I pictured one of bowls I recently noticed.  There is was.  A light terra-cotta round pot.  It sits outside and takes on all the weather nature throws it's way:  harsh rains, intense heat, biting cold, snow, sleet, drought, you name it.  The structure of the piece is still there, but crumble by crumble it deteriorates.  I can't move it without little parts of it falling off.  It's outwardly wasting away.

But what is supposed to grow in the pot?  A plant.  A flower... A vegetable.  Some living organism that enjoys the soil that grows and produces leaves, fruit, a bud, or an herb.  A seedling of some sort will germinate, spring forth and grow.  (That is, if you have the green thumb and aren't like me, plant killer of all (even when I try, no bueno).  Life grows in the pot, even though the pot itself is outwardly wasting away.

Interesting.

This is how our life is to be with Christ.  While we, our flesh and physical form deteriorate as we absorb life and all its' many facets, inwardly, through our daily walk with Christ, we are germinating a new life.  A life that will outlast our pot, our jar of clay.

So let's put this together.  Outwardly we waste away.  Inwardly we are renewed.  Outwardly we are hard pressed, given the sleet of life.  Inwardly, we are not crushed through the hope, promises and love of our Lord.  Outwardly, our flesh carries around sin and the death of Christ.  But, inwardly through His grace and mercy, we are forgiven and grow into a new life, free from our sins.  As our seedling sprouts, fruits of the Spirit bloom forth and we are continually being made new.  "Death is at work in us, but life is at work in you."

One last thought:  "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, what is unseen is eternal."  Us, in our jar of clay, is something seen and is temporary.  But, what is growing inside us... the unseen, outweighs it all, for that, my friend, is eternal.

"Therefore, we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."  2 Corinthians 4:16-18  NIV


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