Craig Clouston

Perfectly Unique Imperfections

But when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
1 Corinthians 3:10

As the master glassblower puffed gently, a small bulb appeared at the end of the forging tube. Working with quick, decisive motions, she rolled the six-foot tube along a lintel while her apprentice held thick, wet newspaper under the glass, creating a more slender tube. A more forceful puff of air and a larger bulb was created at the end of the tube. The apprentice now used a cup-shaped, cast-steel ladle to shape the vase as the forging tube continued to spin.
Working in unison—one blowing and spinning the tube, the other handling the glass with different tools—they achieved the desired effect. Frequently, the entire work of art was placed back into the furnace for reheating.
When asked why the glass was continually placed in the furnace, she answered, “The glass has many imperfections. As we re-fire the glass, we remove many, but not all, of them. The remaining imperfections are what make each creation unique; it gives the piece more value.”

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Until the day Jesus comes back for the church, we will be imperfect. This does not translate into useless. In the same way the vase has great value even though it is flawed, we too are of great value to God.
The trials of life refine us. God uses the Holy Spirit to influence our lives in one way while He reveals truth to us in another. He places us into the forging fires to remove our imperfections. What is left is a less-flawed vessel.
As we walk through the fire, we become a purer version of the person God means us to be. The Holy Spirit urges us while God directs us. Our refining yields the desired effect. As the forgings cool, we reflect a clearer image of the One Who is perfect in every way.

Prayer

“Please use me, Lord. I need to feel valuable. I want to make a difference in this life. Guide me through the refining fires so I reflect a better representation of Your image to those I meet along life’s path. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”