A long time had passed since the potter finished adding handles, lids, spouts, and trimming each piece of pottery he had thrown. His efforts over the past weeks resulted in the creation of almost three hundred beautiful, unique pieces of pottery—all of various sizes and shapes and intended for a wide variety of uses.
Though some took longer than others, all the pieces were now thoroughly dry. Allowing the clay to dry was in itself a critical element of the pottery process. If a vessel that was not completely dry were exposed to the extreme heat of the kiln, the remaining moisture would expand unevenly causing its fragile walls to crack or explode under pressure.
But now all the "greenware" was completely dry and ready to be placed in the nearly 100 foot long outdoor, wood-fired kiln the potter bad built on a hillside near his house. It had been constructed from previously fired bricks of clay and contained several separate chambers into which the clay pieces were carefully stacked. Directly below each storage chamber was an area where the wood was burned to produce the fire needed to harden the greenware into biscuit-ware.
Before enduring the "biscuit fire" the pottery lacked the necessary strength to allow it to be glazed, decorated or used.
The potter carefully directed where each piece of pottery was to be placed in the kiln. When the first chamber at the bottom of the hill was filled, its fire door was sealed with bricks and wet clay and the next chamber began to be filled with more greenware. After all the chambers had been filled and their openings sealed, each fire bar was loaded with wood. The fire was always begun in the bottom chamber so that each succeeding chamber received benefit from the updraft of heat flowing up the bill, towards the top-most chamber which was specially vented to release the smoke.
Large piles of wood that had been exactingly cut and split to the proper length and width were neatly stacked by each fire box. It was dark and the family had retired for the night. The first fire would be lit very early the next morning, beginning a firing cycle which would take two or more days. During this time, the potter and his helpers would enjoy very little rest or sleep.
The morning broke bright and cleat; alive with the noise of people scurrying to get ready for the biscuit fire. It was the responsibility of the master potter to do the firing just as he had done each step in the pottery making process. Carefully watching the "color" of the fire, he would have to determine when it bad reached the appropriate temperature —the time to seal up the fire box and extinguish the fire.
If the fire was put out before it became hot enough, the vessels inside would still be too fragile to handle, breaking easily during the final glazing process. On the other hand, if the potter allowed the fire get too hot, the surfaces of the pottery pieces would become so vitrified (hardened) that they would not be able to hold the glazes with which they were to be covered.
A small peep hole in each firing chamber was the only way the potter could watch the color of the fire and know when the proper temperature had been reached. The hotter the fire, the more pale the color At times the fire grew so hot it became almost white. So experienced and accurate was the potter's eye that he was able to detemine (within 3 or 4 degrees) the exact temperature of each firing chamber by observing the fire's color.
Christians Need to Be Hardened
There is a necessary hardening process that our all wise God allows each of His children to pass through in order that we may be strengthened in the path of faith. In perfect wisdom and love, He knows exactly when to allow the heat of trials—and He knows too just how fierce the heat must be to strengthen the vessel for its intended service. Few believers are allowed to pass through this wilderness journey" without experiencing at one time or another (perhaps at many different times) the vitally important, but often uncomfortable heat of the "furnace (kiln) of affliction".
Conflict Is Not for the Weak
In the very midst of such trials, the loving grace of God is our never failing refuge. When Israel was delivered that passover night from Egypt we read: "And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt"(Ex. 13:1717And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: (Exodus 13:17)). Newly redeemed Israel could not yet meet their enemies in the wilderness until they had been hardened by the fire of trials. Jehovah graciously kept them from "seeing" conflict until they had passed through enough "heat" to enable them to withstand and fend off the coming attacks.
In Deut. 20:88And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart. (Deuteronomy 20:8) we find that Jehovah's instructions to the people as they prepared for battle include some interesting exceptions. One was for a man who was not yet brave enough to face conflict. "What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart". The field of strife was no place for a fragile, untested vessel which would easily crack in battle, so Jehovah in grace allowed that one to stay away from the battle.
Strengthened for Battle
Likewise we should not expect or encourage "newly formed" Christians (especially our beloved children), who have not yet experienced the heat of painful, but necessary strengthening trials, to enter the deadly serious arena of Christian conflict. In Christian warfare, these "new—born babes"—like "untempered steel"—often fail and break down.
John Mark (Acts 13:13, 15:38) provides a solemn example of this very thing. This dear young man had gone with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey from Antioch. Feeling the hostility of the Jews towards Paul's gospel message and finding that the Gentiles were being brought into blessing—these circumstances were beyond his ability to endure. Thus in the heat of conflict the vessel broke and John Mark, leaving them, returned to his mother's home in Jerusalem. This was a vessel, not yet "tempered" by the heat of trials—one that failed in his service at the time when his ministry was needed.
We do not want such a thing to happen—to ourselves or other believers. How much we need the "heat of the kiln" and how little we appreciate it! Let us walk with the Lord in faith confident that He knows exactly how much heat each vessel needs, when that heat is needed, and how best to apply that heat to His vessel.
The Value of Heat
There are many kinds of trials, difficulties and testings that Christians are called to pass through. Yet in each case, the end our loving and all wise Father has in view is the same—that we might be strengthened to display the beauties and loveliness of Himself—our Lord Jesus Christ—in a world that hated Him, saw "no beauty" in Him (Isa. 53:22For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. (Isaiah 53:2)), and spitting in His blessed face, rejected and crucified Him.
This is why Peter speaks by Divine Inspiration of our faith being "proved" by the heat of trials—something far more precious than the most valued things in this world (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 passing through trials and difficulties it may be hard to feel thankful for them—far easier to desire what might be found in this present evil world to bring some relief and comfort. But how wonderful to daily draw near to our precious Savior and hear His blessed, encouraging whisper,"...as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isa. 55:99For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9)).
Are you feeling the heat of pressures and trials in your life, dear believer? Don't be discouraged. Look to the Lord for the needed grace to endure the fire. He promises a full supply of grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:1616Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)) and will give even more grace Gas. 4:6) to help us through those times.
"Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into various temptations, knowing that the proving of your faith works endurance. But let endurance have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing...Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for, having been proved, he shall receive the crown of life, which He has promised to them that love him" Games 1:2-4, 12 JND).