Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.  Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.  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. 

Dear Deb,

personal intro...omitted This summer, my husband and I went to Aruba for a week. One of the things that had the greatest impact on me was visiting a butterfly farm there. It reminded me of a story I'd so often heard in reference to being a 'new creation' once we are born into God's family. In listening to the owner of the farm explain about the life of this caterpillar/butterfly, I now understand my life better, especially now.

 After the caterpillar lives it's life and it's time for it's transformation, it spins itself a cocoon. Nothing more than God's design lets it know the proper time and way to do this. Within this cocoon, the caterpillar is completely liquefied!! That's what amazed me the most. Complete liquidation of the previous creature. It has no shape, no form, no choice, NO CONTROL! The caterpillar either changes or it dies. There is no in-between. The Master's Hands REFORM what once was one creature, and creates a new and different one. The butterfly.

 Spiritually speaking, the same principle applies to us. The only choice we truly have is to die, (or rather stay dead) or to live. No in-between. It takes place in the way and time the Master designs, or it doesn't take place at all. For those who become a 'new creation in Christ', we are born anew. However the 'liquidation' process takes place over and over again. It takes place SLOWLY and REPEATEDLY! First, the heart is changed. The core place in us where God's life resides. That in of itself is permanent and instant. The rest of the transformation is a slower more arduous process. The new creature is developed and molded, while at the same time the old one which still exists is disintegrated and destroyed little by little over time.

 I must say when Jesus saved me, I had no idea what He had in store for me. And dare say now the way things look, if I had known then what I know now I would NEVER have accepted the invitation! YES! My attitude STINKS right now! (To put it mildly). We are meant to walk a specific path from which there is NO deviation! The only thing we own is our attitude in the manner by which we take each step. We either 'obey' or 'submit'. To submit is to walk willingly and joyfully along the previously designated path, simply because we trust the Leader and believe and look forward to the final destination. Right now, I'm obeying instead. I'm doing what I believe God wants me to do; UNWILLINGLY, and I won't pretend to anyone that it's any different. I want to talk and have fellowship with FRIENDS! TRUE FRIENDS! I'm not walking the path God designed, I'm being dragged kicking and screaming every inch of the way. I've run the gamete. I've cried for weeks. begged, pleaded, threatened, bargained, cursed..you name it, and I've done it. But slowly, EVER so slowly, my attitude IS changing from 'obedience' to 'submission.' The course is set, and it CAN'T be turned. Certainly not by me. But God had to teach me that because I flat out refused to learn it.

 For me, I think once I got saved, God put me in contact with people by which I could see Him more clearly. It was a way He let me get to know Him better than I ever did before. It was like a treat for a new family member. Now, the work begins. His work on me. I think the first thing He targets to work on is the thing that means most to us. With me, that was you. One at a time, the idols are removed and put at a distance that is no longer reachable. Once the most precious idol of ours is taken, it DOES become easier to loose the rest of everything until He is the Only One left. Jesus. He's the only Idol we were meant to have all along. Total possession is God's ultimate goal. He will stop at nothing, and use any and every method to accomplish His mission. And again, our attitude about what takes place and how it takes place is the only thing we own in the end.