Clay In His Hands
Devotions with Pastor Jason Lim

"Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this? (Romans 9:20)

A sculptor has every right to deal with a lump of clay as he pleases. The creative process is not a consultative one, for he does not ask a lump of clay what it would like to be. The sculptor has absolute right to fashion any object from the clay. He can take the clay and make it into a beautiful work of art or He can turn it into a common brick. He alone has the absolute right to choose.

The gap between clay and man, however, is nowhere compared to the great divide between man and God, especially when man has fallen into sin. So if a sculptor has the right to do as he pleases with clay, God has the sovereign right to do with fallen and sinful man as He pleases, and there will be no unrighteousness or injustice with God.

It is true that God sovereignly, independently, and unilaterally decides without consultation with men their fate. The Bible teaches the reason for His ultimate glory; it's for Him - He is the center of the universe. When God pours out His power and wrath on some and showers others with mercy and grace, God is manifesting His glory in showing who He is. This is so that for all eternity, we will worship and glorify Him fully for who He is. 

So one day, we will see clearly the supreme purpose of God's sovereignty throughout the entire history of this world, and glorify Him for who He is and what He has done.