Two days after the biscuit fire was begun it reached the appropriate temperature and its fires—one chamber at a time—were extinguished. The kiln was allowed to cool for another day before the firing chamber doors were unsealed and the newly hardened pottery carefully removed.
Now the last step in the pottery making cycle could begin—applying glazes to the drab looking biscuit ware and subjecting the vessels to a much more intense heat which would result in unique, beautiful and useful finishes for each pot.
The glazes always appeared dull and lifeless before being introduced to the extreme heat of the final fire—consisting of flat grays, muddy earth greens and browns, pale ochers and wan pinks. But the intense heat of the kiln would fuse these unattractive appearing glazes with the clay surfaces creating a marvelous tapestry of sparkling, rich and vibrant colors.After the glaze fire, most every color of the rainbow might be found somewhere on the beautiful, glossy surfaces that quietly gleamed with gem-like luster, displaying new facets of beauty each time the piece was handled.
Those beautiful finishes, however, were not the only reason for subjecting the pottery to the final fire (intense heat reaching 2600-2700 degrees Fahrenheit). Such intense temperatures also vitrified the clay. When this happened the clay became so hardened that it was (and still is) referred to as "stoneware"—a condition in which vessels become impervious to moisture and are strong enough to withstand the heat of open cooking fires, baking ovens, or boiling liquids.
When the glaze firing cycle had been completed each piece of pottery would truly have become a "vessel unto honor ... prepared unto every good work".
For many weeks previous to glazing, the potter's family had been diligently collecting and storing wood and rice ashes from their cooking and heating fires. To this collection were added the wood ashes of the recently completed biscuit fire. Along with carefully measured amounts of silica and other minerals, the ashes were a main ingredient of the glazes. Water was added, creating thick, soupy mixtures which were constantly stirred in the large dipping tubs. Introduced to high temperature fires, the seemingly worthless ash when combined with the other glaze ingredients produced brilliant, sparkling stoneware colors.
However, before glazing, bees' wax -melted in another large container-was applied to the bottom rims of each vessel and the rims and edges of covered containers. This formed a protective coating which repelled the glaze, but quickly burnt away in the early stages of the fire. These thin unglazed edges kept lids from fusing to the containers they covered and insured that none of the glazed vessels would be permanently melted to the inside wall of the kiln or shelves.
As in all preceding cycles, the master potter was wholly responsible for the glazing process. He determined how much glaze was to be applied, whether it would be dipped or poured on the object, in what combinations it was to be applied, and what other decorations of iron oxide, cobalt or other materials he would add with bamboo brushes.
The glaze application-dipping each piece into the tubs of glaze, or pouring glaze over the pottery-appeared deceptively simple. But the process required the experience of one who knew exactly what colors each glaze would produce and which of the pottery pieces would be best complemented by those particular hues. He also had to instinctively know how long to keep the pottery submersed in the liquid glaze. Successfully combining more than one glaze on a vessel also required consummate skill, while the infinite patterns formed as various blends of glazes were poured over a pot, could only be achieved by an experienced craftsman.
After the glazing was completed and each pot thoroughly dry, the potter took them one by one and turning them slowly on a wheel, added his final decorations with a bamboo brush.
The whole process took several days to complete and then once again it was time to load the kiln. The potter directed exactly where each pot was to be placed in the various kiln chambers. Chemical reactions from the various glaze combinations as they melted left marked visual effects on nearby vessels and could cause unexpected changes in their glazes. Thus, unerring wisdom was required to know whether the effects produced on other vessels would be beneficial or detrimental Unlike the biscuit fire where vessels could be stacked against each other for support, no part of the now glazed surfaces were allowed to touch another pot. Should that happen, the glaze would permanently fuse together the surfaces of two pots, ruining them both.
Once all the pottery was loaded into the kiln and the chambers sealed, the final fire was begun. Knowing the exact temperature of this fire was especially critical for a variation of even 5 degrees at 2700° Fahrenheit could mean the difference between a sparkling, beautiful surface and one marred by an "orange peel" texture containing dull, uninteresting patches of scorched color. The potter's eye, constantly gauging the intensity of the fire, was the only means by which the proper time to seal the chamber and extinguish the fire might be determined.
Five days later, the potter and his family eagerly unsealed the now cool kiln chambers and unloaded the finished pottery. There were many exclamations of surprise and delight as each piece, now glowing with remarkable beauty and luster, was placed on the ground where all could view the result's of the potter's skill. How beautiful they all looked! Each one with a special purpose and function to fulfill, each one alight with its own unique color and shape, each one bearing silent yet eloquent testimony to the wisdom and ability of its creator-each one now truly "meet for the master's use".
Experiencing the Fire
Though each believer tastes in measure the trial of your faith (1 Peter 1:77That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (1 Peter 1:7)), perhaps none have felt it as the beloved apostle Paul. Yet it was by those very fires that he was hardened, becoming serviceable for Christ in the midst of conflict—and—because of them that Christ was magnified in Paul. To look at Paul the Apostle was to see a beautiful display of Christ in an earthen vessel. Our gracious God desires to bring about this same display of Christ in each of our lives. He is bringing many sons to glory—each one bearing the glorious image of His well beloved Son.
Our Father never intends that the fire of trials and testings consume us, but rather that they be the means by which each of His dear children display the beauties and loveliness of Christ.
The kiln practically did in Paul's life what John Baptist, upon beholding the Lamb of God, concluded must be done in each of our lives—He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:3030He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30)).The Apostle was enabled to say with joy, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ... I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus" (Gal. 6:14,1714But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Galatians 6:14)
17From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. (Galatians 6:17)).Those marks, like the beautiful decorations of the finished pottery, bore testimony, not to Paul, but to the glory of finished work of Christ.
However, even as the glaze before it endures the fire is unattractive to look at, so the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ to natural sight is despised. But those hours of agony our blessed Savior endured at Calvary, have resulted in eternal marks of glory and beauty that each vessel may now bear in testimony to His finished work and His glorious Person.
Beauty Formed in the Fire
All that Paul had once been as Saul of Tarsus, he counted worthless (Phil. 3:8-148Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:8‑14)) that Christ might be glorified in and through him. The fires of trials reduced them to nothing, while causing the beauty of Christ to shine in his life.
Few have ever suffered for Christ—have ever felt the fire's intensity as did Paul when he went through the furnace of affliction. What terrible heat he experienced!—"in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen...by the heathen...in the city...in the wilderness...in the sea...among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness" (2 Cor. 11:23-2723Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. (2 Corinthians 11:23‑27)).
Yet the extreme fire through which the beloved apostle passed caused Christ to become the supreme Goal and sole Object of his life. Let us repeat once more the beautiful moral progression of his life as he decreases in view of the Lord's majesty and glory. He begins in 1 Con 15:9 by calling himself the least of the apostles. Later, in Eph. 3:88Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; (Ephesians 3:8) he looks at himself as less than the least of all saints. Then, near the end of his life (1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)) he is divinely inspired to characterize himself as the chief of sinners. At the same time the glory of the One who met him on the Damascus road increases from a light from heaven (Acts 9:33And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: (Acts 9:3)) to a light above the brightness of the sun (Acts 26:1313At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. (Acts 26:13)). Christ is everything (Col. 3:1111Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3:11)).The Lord Jesus is the glaze that covers, giving his varied and magnificent glory to the vessel which has been passed through the heat.
Feeling the Heat
We also are made to feel the heat of the kiln in our lives though probably not in the measure Paul felt it. Still, such trials and provings are those valuable times of strengthening "of your faith... tried with fire" (1 Peter 1:77That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (1 Peter 1:7)). When feeling the heat, how comforting to remember that it is being carefully and untiringly observed by the Master Potter's eye. He knows perfectly when each vessel has received the exact amount of heat needed to enable it's display of the beauties and glories of Christ. And though we may often get discouraged and downcast in the furnace, how good to remember those three faithful servants (Dan. 3) who in the midst of such terrible heat, were comforted by the presence of the Son of God with them."Thus saith the LORD that created thee...and he that formed thee... Fear not...When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee... when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned" (Isa. 42:1,21Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. (Isaiah 42:1‑2)).
Beautiful Ashes
We also may experience for a time (or perhaps all during our Christian pathway) trials and afflictions which answer to the messenger of Satan (2 Cor. 12:7-107And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7‑10)) that buffeted the beloved Apostle. The Lord saw fit to allow a thorn in the flesh in his life to insure that it was Jesus Christ—His glory, grace, strength and power—not Paul's, that would be displayed and used. Paul prayed that it might be taken away and received an answer of encouragement that caused him joy—my grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Paul immediately, in the lovely attitude of full submission to the heat of the fire replies most gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Thus, the beloved Apostle submitted fully and countless myriads of believers have been blessed by the beauty which the Father's furnace brought from the ashes of Paul's thorn.
Perhaps we too, finding some circumstance of our lives so difficult, hope of realizing any joy or blessing from it is lost. Nothing profitable in the pile of ashes these particular circumstances have produced seem destined to provide anything of profit. Yet when those very ashes of trials and failures are mixed with the water of the Word of God, submission to and faith in Him, a glaze is created which the fire of trials will turn into a most a beautiful, Christ-like finish for the earthen vessel.
God also uses the ashes of failures as He did with David, Jacob and so many other saints recorded in the Bible, to bring about the most desirable and beautiful finishes to those vessels He has created for His pleasure (Rev. 4:1111Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11)) and for some special ministry or service while in this scene.
In the most difficult and trying circumstances then, we can, with joy and comfort, rest on our God's wonderful promise "to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness”
Gracious Comfort
May God encourage each one who has or presently is passing through deep waters with the thought that He is forming Christ in them, even as Paul told the Galatian believers: "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you" (Gal. 4:1919My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, (Galatians 4:19)).
In order that our joy might be full On. 15:11) and our hearts resting in peace, let us hear the words of the Apostle in Heb. 12:1111Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:11), personally making them ours. "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby".
It is true dear reader, the kiln of God's pottery workshop may not always be pleasant to pass through, but Oh! what glorious and beautiful results are realized in the lives of each vessel that submits to the perfect ways of the Master Potter—what joys are there for those who recline with the full assurance of faith in the Potter's hands.
Epilogue
The oriental potter and his family described in this booklet, though fictitious, illustrate the main processes by which pottery has been created and fired throughout the ages—including Biblical times. The industrial revolution of 18th Century Great Britain brought immense changes to Western culture including the mass production of goods which caused handmade objects such as pottery to become expensive and unappreciated. But though the craft of pottery suffered in the west, still in the 21st century, a small "niche" market exists for crafts including hand-thrown pottery. In oriental society (as well as other cultures) hand made pottery is far more commonly used in everyday life, and in those places the potter still functions in a way similar to that described in this booklet.
Our imaginary account represents a general summary, without claiming total technical accuracy, of the kinds of materials and techniques that a potter in Biblical times would have used to create functional, handmade pottery.
Having both thrown and taught pottery, I have often been struck with the remarkable similarities between pottery making and the manner by which our blessed God works with each of us—the descendants of the man He first created in Eden from the dust (clay) of the ground (Gen. 2:77And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7)).
In thinking about the various steps described in each chapter, I have once again reveled in how descriptive they are of the way in which our loving Father—the Master Potter—unerringly brings each of His dear children into conformity with His beloved Son.
How painstakingly He forms each vessel! and then intently watches with an untiring eye of love, as it endures the fires of testing and trials. How very much He desires a family that fully reflects the glories, beauties and perfections of His eternal, well beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren" (Rom. 8:2929For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)).
A day of eternal, unbroken glory is soon to dawn. A day when our blessed God will have gathered around Himself all the redeemed and then will be the perfect fulfillment of "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing" (Zeph. 3:1717The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)). Oh! how the Master Potter will joy and rest in His love and in perfect satisfaction with each vessel unto honor He has created (Rom. 9:2121Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? (Romans 9:21))!
Parable of a Teacup
A couple used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores for antiques—especially pottery teacups. One day in a gift shop they saw a lovely little teacup.
“May we see that? We've never seen one as beautiful." As the clerk handed it to them, the teacup spoke.
“You must understand," it began, "I haven't always been a beautiful teacup. There was a time when I was just a lump of muddy clay. The master potter dug me up, then rolled and kneaded me over and over until I yelled, 'Stop it! Let me alone.' But he just smiled and said, 'Not yet.'
He then placed me on a spinning wheel. I was spun around and around and around. 'Stop it!' I cried. 'I'm getting dizzy!', I screamed.
But the master only smiled again, nodded his head sympathetically and repeated,' Not yet'
He then placed me in a large brick oven. I never felt such terrible heat. Why would the master do that to me—why would he burn me?, I wondered. I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him peering at me through a tiny opening and I could read his lips as he shook his head saying, 'Not yet'
Finally it became cool inside and the door opened. The master carefully put me on a shelf.
`That's better', I thought. But then He began to paint me all over with a brush. The paint smelled so strong I thought I couldn't breathe. Once again I yelled, 'Stop it, stop it!'
The master just gave me another sympathetic smile and said, 'Not yet.'
"Suddenly he picked me up and put me back into another oven—one which became much hotter than the first. Oh! how I begged and pleaded and screamed and cried. All the time I could see him peering through the tiny opening nodding his head with a smile, saying, 'Not yet.'
In despair I thought that there was no longer any hope for me-I just couldn't make it through that terrible heat. Ready to give up it felt like I was about to melt into a shapeless molten puddle. But just then I noticed that it began to get cooler in the oven. After a long time the door opened and the master gently took me out and placed me back on the shelf.
A bit later he handed me a mirror and with a smile said, `look at yourself'. I did and couldn't believe what I saw.
“It's beautiful. I'm beautiful", I said over and over in wonder and amazement.
The master tenderly said to me, "Little teacup, remember, I knew it hurt you to be rolled and kneaded. But if I had left you alone, you would have dried up and become useless to me.
“I knew too how dizzy it made you when I spun you around on the wheel. But if I had stopped, you would have collapsed into a shapeless and useless blob of wet day.
“I also knew it was very uncomfortable in the oven. But if I hadn't put you in there, you would have eventually cracked, and I would never have been able to use you for anything.
“I knew those fumes were bad when I brushed the decorations all over you. But if I hadn't done that, you would not be able to display my glory as your master potter.
“And if I hadn't put you back in that second oven where the heat was so terrible, you would never have gained the beauty that I wanted you to exhibit to others.
“Little teacup, because of all those uncomfortable times that you experienced, you are now just exactly what I wanted for you to become!
The Potter has the power,
The knowledge and the skill,
To fashion every vessel,
According to His will.
The pattern and the purpose,
Of every vessel planned,
Its usefulness and beauty
Are in the potter's hand.
The clay makes no decision,
Has no will of its own,
But yielded to the potter,
His pattern is made known.
And thus the Master Potter,
Our service has outlined;
He asks us to be yielded
Unto His Will and Mind.
His purpose to acknowledge,
To listen to His voice,
To let Him plan our pathway,
According to His choice.
A vessel marred and broken,
We may not understand,
But all can be committed
Unto the Potter's hand.
Our Father's way is perfect,
His thought toward us is love;
He's fashioning and molding,
For life with Him above.
To trust the Heavenly Potter,
And let Him mold the clay,
Brings joy, and peace, and blessing,
And happiness alway.
Courtesy of BibleTruthPublishers.com. Most likely this text has not been proofread. Any suggestions for spelling or punctuation corrections would be warmly received. Please email them to: BTPmail@bibletruthpublishers.com.