The Claytons were again back living in the land of the cliffs, which had become known as the land of Clayton. After much thought and debate the little clay people decided to call their new homeland the city of Clayton. They had the ten instructions to go by and they believed as long as they followed those to the best of their ability, they and their children would be able to turn this barren land into a great city. As the little clay people began construction on building up the city of Clayton their faith was being deconstructed . They thought they were too busy to go to be refined by the Potter. They started to believe that the Potter wouldn’t mind, because part of their construction consisted of a great temple in honor of the Potter.
After the temple had been completed one of the Claytons named, Levin was appointed to be over the temple. The city had grown tremendously over the years. However, another thing that had grown was the separation between the Potter and the Claytons. As each generation passed, the Claytons were more focused on following the instructions than going to the Potter to be refined. The Claytons set aside one day a year that they would bring offerings to the temple, but only Levin would be allowed to enter the innermost part of the temple to be refined by the Potter.
The Potter was pleased that most of the Claytons wanted to follow the instructions, however He yearned for the Claytons to return to him to be refined. The Potter was disheartened that the people seemed to be in competition of who could follow the instructions the best. As time evaporated the Potter sent out a man named Prophet to foretell of the Potter coming down to live among the Claytons. Most of the Claytons thought this to be hilarious, because they wondered how the Potter who was not made of clay could live among them. The Claytons enacted many new laws after hearing Prophet. They began to believe that just in case the Potter did come down if they were found following the laws the Potter would be very pleased.
Again time had passed and the Claytons were more concerned about the laws than about being refined, which is what the Potter truly wants from his creations. It was only a short time before the Potter would be among the little clay people like he had never been before. The Potter sent out someone much like Prophet. His name was Johnny B.
Johnny B. went all around the city of Clayton proclaiming their need to be refined and that the Potter’s coming was at hand. There were many who believed the message that the Potter would make himself into clay, yet without any brokenness or scars, and that he would soon be among them. The message that Johnny B. proclaimed was that there would be one far greater than him coming that would bring a cleansing fire that would help them realize that their true purpose was to be refined.
Eventually the Potter himself appeared on the scene being in the form of a clay man, yet having no scars or brokenness about him. This man, JayCee went around the city of Clayton doing many miraculous things. He was even known to break some of the laws that the Claytons had dreamed up to show them that following the law alone would get you nowhere. No matter how many good choices the Claytons made and how often they followed the laws, if they did not choose to believe in JayCee they would never know the way to the true refiner’s fire. Only through Him would they find an eternal hope. To be continued…
Originally written May 3, 2000.
~TRS
Rays of Hope 