Jars of Clay

A television series called “New Amsterdam” is based on a nonfiction book written by a doctor. The book is: “Twelve Patients: Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital.” I just finished reading it. Besides giving me a deeper compassion for humanity, I’m also thinking more about medical issues.

Today I am wondering about transplants and trying to imagine what it would be like to breathe with another person’s lungs or have life because of a heart transplant. My pacemaker is totally responsible for my heartbeat. This required some mental and emotional adjustment and has changed my thinking in several ways.

Another adjustment happened years ago when I became a Christian. As the New Testament repeatedly affirms, the Lord Jesus Christ took up residence in me, His Spirit giving life to my spirit. This is God moving in. This is the Creator of the universe taking over. He leaves me with my will — I can say NO to Him — but my life has changed. He said it would. That should not be a surprise, yet at times when I stop to think about this reality, my mind struggles to wrap itself around this amazing transplant!

Jesus said the change would make me as refreshing to others as a stream refreshes dry ground:

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:37–39)

To be this source of living water, first I must believe in Jesus Christ, drawing life from Him through the power of the Holy Spirit. I cannot do it without the Spirit. Not only that, if I try, I will block His flow like mud in a water hose. To be living water, self needs to stop ‘nice’ actions with selfish motives, cease all attempts to be popular with people but ignoring God, and quit trying to figure out how to make people like me. This is not a negative thing. Living water is far lovelier than mud, far easier to like, enjoy, appreciate, but it does not come from me.

Why then is this sometimes problem? Probably because the Lord gets the credit, the glory. I’m just mud.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

Mud blocks living water. It must be flushed out so the life of Christ flows. Being crucified is part of this purging and an vital part of this transplant process, the painful part. It is the not just the heart but the whole person willingly yielding to the will of God, no matter the cost. For most of us, this does not mean a cross or something equally painful, but it could. Many Christians have died for their faith, been beaten or abused.

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated — of whom the world was not worthy — wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:32–40)

Yet nothing can destroy that living water. It comes from the life of Christ, from the One who is indestructible. Whatever else it costs me to believe in and follow Jesus, nothing can take His life away from me, His eternal and powerful life, full of grace and truth, a life that has forever changed my life. Thank You, Jesus. 

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