Directions to the Potter's House (Part 1)

DIRECTIONS TO THE POTTER’S HOUSE (Part 1)

Jeremiah 18:3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. (NIV)

             Now that you have learned about the Potter and His desire for your life, you may ask the question, “How do I get to where He is?” Well, before we answer that question, let’s learn about His home. The kitchen is known to be the heart of the home. The Potter’s home tells us a lot about His heart for His children.

The 3 Heavens

Hebrews 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. (NIV) The Bible lets us know that God resides in Heaven and that is where His throne is. There is, however, more than one heaven as described in the Bible. The above verse lets us know that our High Priest went through the “heavens” when He ascended back to where God is. Let’s take a look at them, so that you can be clear of which one the Bible speaks of when studying the scriptures.

1^st Heaven – the sky

James 5:18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. (NIV) During the days of Elijah, there was wickedness in the land. God withheld rain upon Israel as a judgment during the reign of the wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. After 3 ½ years had gone by without rain, Elijah prayed for it to rain and the rain came down from the sky, which is one of the heavens that the Bible speaks of.  This heaven is where the birds fly and the clouds exist to produce the rain that comes down upon the land.

2^nd Heaven – outer space

Matthew 24:29 “Immediately after the distress of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall form the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.” (NIV) The Bible speaks of the 2^nd heaven where the sun, moon and stars are. This also includes where the planets and constellations are placed in the cosmos. Man has been able to fly into the 1^st Heaven and send satellites into the 2^nd Heaven, but no one outside of God and the angels can ascend to and from the 3^rd Heaven.

3^rd Heaven – home of God

2 Corinthians 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know –God knows. (NIV) Jesus left earth to go back to where his Father lives and that is in the 3^rd Heaven. The 3^rd Heaven is the place that we want to go upon leaving this sinful and diseased planet. There will be no more sickness, death, heartbreak, tears, and sin that caused us to be separated from God. Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (NIV) Imagine being where you will never have to receive a bad report from the doctor or having to attend the funeral of a loved one. There will be no one hooked on drugs, no homeless living on the streets, no children been aborted or abused, no violence or fits of rage. Where God is, there is peace, love and joy. There is hope, happiness and tranquility that surpasses anything that we would have experienced here on earth. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” – the things God has prepared for those who love him – these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. (NIV) In Heaven, there is Light all the time because God is the Light and darkness cannot exist in His presence. There will forever be worship and praise unto God for His tender mercies and grace given to all who made it. Can you imagine the rejoicing that will take place upon your arrival to Heaven? All of Heaven will sing because of every new arrival. Luke 15:7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (NIV) Heaven is a place where every soul matters. Heaven is where Jesus promised to prepare a place for His children. John 14:2-4 ⁽²⁾My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ⁽³⁾And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁽⁴⁾You know the way to the place where I am going.” (NIV) We will have the supper of the Lamb there and there will finally be an end to all the heartaches and effects of sin once we get there.

We get to Him through our hearts

One day, we will be able to go to Heaven and see Jesus face to face. Until that day arrives, we are able to get to Him through our hearts.  Psalm 119:10 I seek you with all my heart, do not let me stray from your commands. (NIV) When we seek the Lord with our whole heart, soul and mind, He is forever near to us. Even when we don’t always feel Him – He is there. He has promised in His word that He will never leave us. Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” (NIV) Therefore, we can be confident in His promises and that if we remain faithful to the end, Heaven will be our eternal destination. Until then, He resides in His temple.

We are His temple

We will one day be able to be in God’s presence in Heaven, but until then, He resides in His temple, which is our physical body. 1 Corinthians  6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body. (NIV) Because He is the Potter and we are His clay, we must be careful with how we take care of His vessel. We cannot live as the world and Christ at the same time. We must use our vessels to represent Christ alone at all times.  1 Corinthians 12:27  Now that you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a part of it. (NIV)

During Biblical times, the priests had to do sacrifices on behalf of the people. However, when Jesus died on the cross, there was no longer any need for a priest to perform duties in the temple. Jesus became the High Priest in the order of Melchizedek and we are to be a living sacrifice unto Him. Hebrews 7:17-19 For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.” (NIV) Jesus as our High Priest is constantly working in our temples. We are His living sacrifice in that once we accepted Him into our hearts, we declared that we were willing to forsake all to follow Him. We are the sacrifices that He desires to have and therefore, must be totally committed to live for Him. Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the patter of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV)

JOIN US TOMORROW FOR PART 2 WHERE WE WILL USE THE POTTER'S GPS TO GET TO HIM.