The Potter had came down in the form of a clay man without any scars or brokenness. It was the Claytons’ free will to choose to believe that JayCee was the chosen one sent by the Potter. Many of the high ranking officials and religious leaders of the Claytons did not believe in JayCee. They wanted to continue to go by the ten instructions and the numerous other laws that the Claytons had made, without going to the Potter to be refined.
It was the will of the Potter to let JayCee become broken and bear the scars of the Claytons as the ultimate act of service and love. JayCee let the Claytons know that he was going back to be with the Potter to prepare a paradise for all who believe in him to eventually spend eternity with him and the Potter. JayCee also gave them comfort to let them know they wouldn’t be left alone. He assured them that he was given the authority to send out the Refining Fire to be a guide and comfort for them.
No longer would the Claytons have to go to the Potter to be refined, but they would have to believe in JayCee. Once they believe in JayCee he will send them the Refining Fire that will dwell within them to continually mold their clay bodies and images into the image of JayCee. This does not mean that the Claytons who have the Refining Fire within them will be perfect and never make mistakes, or suffer. It simply means that those who daily surrender to the Refining Fire will be shaped more in the likeness of what the Potter had initially intended. Many of the Claytons did not believe in the Refining Fire, because they could not see him. To them if they couldn’t see Him then He must not exist.
There were several Claytons that were called to be messengers to proclaim the good news that JayCee offered. One of the most respected messengers of the Claytons was BeeGee. He went all over the city of Clayton proclaiming the good news. BeeGee especially loved to tell about the Refining Fire. As BeeGee would be telling of the Refining Fire there would always be a few of the Claytons speak up and declare, “we do not believe in what we cannot see.” BeeGee would then ask them if they believed that there is such a thing as the wind. “Of course there is wind,” they would reply. “Can you see the wind?” BeeGee would ask. “No, but you can see the effects of the wind, therefore we know there is a wind.” they argued.
BeeGee then explained that is how one can believe in the Refining Fire. “You cannot see Him, but you can see the effects in the lives of those who truly believe. You can’t see the wind, but you can see the leaves on the trees moving because of it. Likewise, when you see someone’s life being changed know that it is the Refining Fire that is moving in them.” There were some of the Claytons who had become so broken and scarred because of the choices they made they felt that even the Refining Fire could not help them. However, there would be other messengers that would come and let them know that it is nothing that anyone can do to accept the gift of the Refining Fire.
The Refining Fire is a gift that is freely given to anyone who simply believes and asks. As long as the Claytons who accepted the free gift pleased the Potter with their faith, service, and above all their love for others, then the Potter would see to it that even though they may at times stumble, they would never fall for the Potter would uphold them through the power of the Refining Fire. Some of the Claytons who did not believe in JayCee, still like the idea of someday being in a paradise for eternity. They rationalized that as long as they were decent, good clay people and occasionally helped others out, they would inherit this paradise too. But, the Claytons who did believe would often wonder why those who ran from JayCee and the Refining Fire their entire lifetimes would want to spend an eternity with them.
The Claytons who believe know that those who don’t believe and waste their life avoiding the Refining Fire will someday spend their eternity in a much different kind of fire. A fire that doesn’t refine or mold. This is a place that was made solely for the salesman who first deceived Amissa and Clayton. The Potter will not send anyone to this place, however the Claytons who never believe will have chosen to go there by the choices they make. The Potter started with a lump of clay and breathed it to life. The lives turned and became broken. Only through the sacrifice of JayCee and Him sending the Refining Fire may the brokenness be healed and the choice is yours of where you spend eternity after THE END.
Originally written May 24, 2000. * This is the end of the 5 Part story of The Claytons. Hopefully, you know the Bible well enough to understand each of the characters in these stories represent real and true people and summarizes the stories found in the Old and New Testaments. The story of the Claytons as a whole is meant to be more like a children’s book; to bring about discussions of the truths found in the Bible.
~Timothy Ray Stockton (TRS)
Rays of Hope 