The Lesson of the Potter’s House
At this season of Chanukah, we commemorate the triumph of the Yahudim over the Greek adversary. It was a long, hard-fought battle. The Greek influence had spread throughout the Land of Yisrael and many of YAH’s people were following the Greek ways.
Then, YAH chose his priests, Mattityahu and his sons, the Maccabees, to lead the fight. The people had to make a choice: follow YAH and His set-apart ones or follow the Greeks.
So, too, in this day and age, we have a choice: follow YAH or follow the Greeks and the Romans - their cultures and their religions.
The Freedom of Choice
Why is there evil in this world?
So that we may have free will.
In order for us to have true free will, we have to have the ability to make a choice. If there is only one option, then we don’t have free will. We have no choice but to do that one option.
But if there are two options, then we can make a real choice. Evil in the world allows us to have free will to make a choice. We can make a distinction, and choose one or the other. Choose good, or choose evil.
Our Choice Right Now
We have been given the gift of free will, and the choice is ours.
We can choose:
(A) The Master of all worlds - יהוה [YAHUAH]
The Reign of YAHUAH the Most High. Life and Good.
Choose the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, the Giver of life and all good. The Blessed One Who blesses us with freedom, prosperity, and peace beyond measure for all eternity. He forgives sin and restores us to life.
-OR -
(B) The Adversary - Satan (the Devil)
Death and Evil. The Curses.
In choosing the adversary, you choose death. The devil brings curses and death to the soul. There is no forgiveness for sin, and therefore, the grave is the ending place for all who make this choice.
Accepting the Torah is choosing YAHUAH. Obeying the commandments is choosing YAHUAH. Living a life in accordance with His ways is choosing YAHUAH.
Rejecting the Torah and accepting the New Testament is choosing the devil. Disobeying the commandments and worshipping another, such as JC, is choosing the devil. Following Greek, Roman, and other pagan laws, customs, and traditions (such as christmas, easter, etc.) is choosing the devil.
YAH has given us free will, and the choice is ours. It’s as simple as choosing death or choosing life.
The Potter's House
YAH gives us the freedom to make a choice, and He also allows us to change our decision - for better or for worse.
YirmeYahu/Jeremiah 18:1-4 "The word which came to Yirmeyahu from יהוה, saying,
(2) “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I let you hear My words.”
(3) So I went down to the potter’s house, and saw him doing a piece of work on the wheel.
(4) And the vessel that he made of clay was ruined in the hand of the potter, so he remade it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do."
Verses 5-8 "Then the word of יהוה came to me, saying,
(6) “O house of Yisra’ěl, am I not able to do with you as this potter?” declares יהוה. “Look, as the clay is in the hand of the potter, so are you in My hand, O house of Yisra’ěl!
(7) “The moment I speak concerning a nation and concerning a reign, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it,
(8) and that nation shall turn from its evil because I have spoken against it, then I shall repent of the evil that I thought to do to it."
We are the clay in the Hands of the Potter, our Creator YAHUAH. If we are disobedient to Elohim and His commandments, then we are like the ruined vessel. This may be one who is a Christian, someone in church who is unaware that they are guilty of idolatry. He has been deceived by the church and does not follow the Law of Moses nor praise the Name of YAHUAH.
Yet, this ruined vessel can be made new!
If we repent of our sins, turn from being disobedient to being obedient to the Laws and commandments of the Most High, then we are made new. The new vessel is the obedient one who chooses YAHUAH, accepts His Torah, and obeys His commandments.
YAH makes a decree to destroy the disobedient, But He will relent when they change their ways to obedience.
Yirm/Jer. 18:7-8 “The moment I speak concerning a nation and concerning a reign, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it,
(8) and that nation shall turn from its evil because I have spoken against it, then I shall repent of the evil that I thought to do to it."
Choose YAHUAH and turn to do good. Make your ways and your deeds good, then, all evil decrees against you will be cancelled, and you will be blessed in YAHUAH.
YAH is calling His people out to make a change before destruction comes.
Yirm/Jer 18:11 “And now, speak to the men of Yehuḏah and to the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, saying, ‘Thus said יהוה, “See, I am forming evil and devising a plan against you. Return now everyone from his evil way, and make your ways and your deeds good.” ’ ”
If we refuse to heed His call to change our ways and continue in ways of disobedience and idolatry, then calamity will come and YAH will not show us favor.
Yirm/Jer. 18:15-17 “But My people have forgotten Me, they have burned incense to what is false, and they have stumbled from their ways, from the ancient paths, to walk in bypaths and not on a highway,
(16) to make their land become a ruin, a hissing forever – everyone who passes by it is appalled and shakes his head.
(17) “I shall scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I shall show them the back and not the face in the day of their calamity.”
Time is short. Judgment of the earth is near on the horizon. It is time now for all people to make the choice, to choose YAHUAH.
YAH has set before us life and death, blessing and curses, good and evil. The choice is ours to make.
Choose life and be made new!
(Deb/Deut. 30:19)
Comments