In Japan there is an art form called Kintsugi (ken-sue-gee) which is the process of taking broken pottery and making it even more valuable by putting it back together with real gold. A metaphor that is often used with this art-form is to “embrace your flaws and imperfections, because you will not realize your fullest potential until you go through tough times.”
There are 4 things that Paul writes about in 2 Corinthians chapter four that will cause our “earthen vessels” to crack during the rough times of life. In a devotion I have read from May of 2020 explained that Paul was writing to the church at Corinth because they were being influenced by the pagan culture in which they lived, instead of the new church becoming the true influencers to Christ.
Jars of clay are easily broken, but when they are cracked they actually can allow more light to shine through them. This is symbolic of we being the clay vessels and God is the Light that is to shine through us. The more “cracked up” we are, the more light can shine forth. It is then others can see our flaws and troubles and realize that we too have hard times, yet continue to trust in the “Maker of the clay.”
The four things that may strike a blow to our lives are when we are 1. Heavily burdened, or stressed out and overwhelmed, yet we are told we will not be crushed. 2. Life will cause us to be perplexed. Just look around and see how the world and society is “baffled, puzzled, confused, and uncertain to the point of having no hope,” but we do not have to despair. 3. There will be times of persecution of being harassed, treated with hostility, and looked down upon because of having faith, but we will never be abandoned or forsaken by God. 4. Some may even be “struck down” , physically assaulted, or attempts of our character being destroyed, but we have to realize who the ultimate enemy is who is out to “steal, kill, and destroy” those who believe.
“For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor 4:6).
This revelation is the treasure we are to house in our “earthen vessels” so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our own lives. Even though we are broken from the hard knocks of life, the light of God will be the “gold” that puts us back together so that we can still be used to our fullest potential with a greater value than before.
~TRS 5/26/23
Rays of Hope 