I Rest My Case

Genesis 1:31-2:3 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. CHAPTER 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. (2) And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. (3) And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. (KJV)  

God rested the seventh day from all His work, not because He was tired, but rather everything that needed to be done and accomplished was completed. God saw His creation and came up with a plan of salvation for mankind, and a way to present His spiritual evidence to us so that we could operate in His image and likeness. Although His plan has been rejected at times, even by us the believers who sin and fall short of the glory of God, His mercy and forgiveness provided a way of escape from our fallen nature, and restoration back to His path of life. Take note of verse 31, which tells us that God saw everything that He made, and from His standpoint it was very good. That everything He is referring to includes you the individual believer, who our Father considers precious in His sight. Have you ever looked at yourself and thought, if you could only be someone else or look like someone else? I know I have in the past, and I have tried to imitate other people, thinking if I could be that someone else I would find peace. The peace and confidence I was seeking wasn’t found until I let the Lord show me who I really am, and where my place is in the body of Christ. The more I was able to look to the inward man, Christ in me the hope of glory, the less I was concerned about my outward man. Now that doesn’t mean we just let ourselves go and not maintain our temples, good health is important, but that begins spiritually and then manifests in the physical. The problem is that sometimes people concentrate more on the outward than on the inward, and find themselves lacking and not at peace with the Creator, thinking He made a mistake with the creation. God did not make a mistake with you; He saw you as a very good creation of His; now it is a matter of allowing Him to have His way by entering into His rest and ceasing from your own works.  

Isaiah 29:15-16 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? (16) Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding? (KJV)  

Have you ever seen the people that work with clay, how they set it on a wheel and spin it and shape it? They basically mold it into the intended design that they had pictured the finished product to be. We are like that clay which needs a dose of water to keep it pliable, soft enough to shape and mold. We can also resemble the clay by not getting enough water, or living waters, becoming hardened, and the Potter is no longer able to work with us. That is exactly what we do when we question and doubt the working of the Lord in our lives, we start second guessing Him and become double minded, which the Bible says is unstable and unable to receive the things of God. Some people don’t find their place in the body of Christ that the Lord intended for them because they have preconceived notions or a desire to be the head or the leader, when in reality they are still acting like the tail end. We need to learn to be faithful in what many may consider least or trivial things, before the Lord will move us on and allow us more responsibility. But just like going to school, you didn’t start out in college but had to work your way up. We have those in the ministry who think they are college grads, but operate like preschoolers and brats. Are you willing to let the Potter work with you, or have you jumped off His wheel and your life is broken in pieces?  

Jeremiah 18:1-6 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, (2) Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. (3) Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. (4) And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. (5) Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, (6) O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. (KJV)  

We all sin and fall short of the glory of God at times. Now it is not a matter of wallowing in our shortcomings, but rather getting back to the Potter’s house and letting Him continue His work. We are all a real piece of work in the Lord, and every time we try to be someone else, or desire to look like someone else, we are calling God a failure, telling Him He made a mistake with us. Sure you might look in the mirror and realize you may have added a little too much clay to the vessel, but ask the Creator how together with Him you can mold and shape the vessel back to its intended size. I have found for myself that the reason I was carrying a bit too much weight around in the past is because it was a result of some spiritual weight and baggage I had been hanging onto. Once I was able to hear the Lord and eliminate the excess spiritual baggage it was then that the physical came in line as well. Now keep in mind that it is not a matter of how much weight one can lose, or trying to go over board and get to thin, but rather finding that just weight and balance the Lord intended, what He considers healthy and not mankind’s ridiculous standards. No matter what area the Lord is working with you on it is a matter of staying put, and holding fast your profession of faith without wavering, so you don’t get caught up in the lies and deceptions of the devil by making you think you should be or resemble someone else. The more you stay seated in the Potter’s house, which is located in the heavenly realm of faith, the more you will resemble and act like one of His people.  

Philippians 2:12-13 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (KJV)  

The word work means to accomplish, finish, or fashion. It is up to you on a daily basis to spend time in our Father’s house and let the spiritual Potter shape and mold you into His image and likeness; no longer being conformed to this world and what man decides is a success. God did rest His case on the seventh day, and would like you to enter into that rest as well so that you can cease from your own works and allow Him to complete His work in you. Don’t show up for your heavenly trial and get your case and you thrown out for lack of evidence, but continue in the faith, the real substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen by the carnal sight or mind.  

God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord.