Being Formed
Man’s response to the truth is categorize by Paul as being formed into vessels, recorded in 2Timothy 2:20, But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. Also in Romans 9:21 he writes; Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? God’s word of truth, by which He created all things, forms man into one of these two vessels. Being of the same lump (Adam), both need correction unto righteousness. The one vessel’s heart is broken and the other’s is destroyed. Based upon ears to hear, the honorable vessel repents unto obedience and the dishonorable vessel is hardened unto disobedience. Each vessel fulfills its designed purpose. Their purpose is to testify of the truth. In obedience or disobedience the truth is verified of its integrity. The honorable vessel proves the blessing of abiding in the truth and the dishonorable vessel proves the curse of being in contrast to it. Both confirm the truth is true. Each of us have chosen how we respond to God’s Word and thereby are formed into the corresponding vessel. Thus the warning from Jesus in Matthew 11:15, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
Interaction Between the Vessels
As each group continues to mature in their calling, God uses them to temper and perfect each other unto the fulfillment of their “glory and honor” or their “indignation and wrath” (Romans 2:7-8). The dishonorable vessels prompt the honorable vessels to continue seeking the apprehension of truth by their oppression and persecution. Wherein the honorable vessels bring that truth to light in the earth for the reproof and demise of the dishonorable vessels. As truth is revealed through God’s honorable vessels, the self-preserving nature of man resists the truth by hardening his heart. For instance, God confronted Pharaoh with His word to let His people go, but Pharaoh did not have ears to hear therefore his heart became hardened. Pharaoh’s response caused tension to build between the truth and his own will resulting in the progressive destruction of Egypt. As his resistance continued so did the plagues.
As truth is revealed so is our accountability to it. If the truth is not honored, we are honoring a lie and thereby subjected unto the curse of upholding futility. Many blame God for their problems but they fail to understand these issues come from their heart’s response to the truth. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23). God used Pharaoh’s resistance to multiply His signs and wonders which forever engraved an impression in the minds of the Israelites, as well as the Egyptians and the nations of Canaan. This was needful to build confidence in the hearts of Israel (and fear in their enemies) for their journey and tasks that were before them. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth (Romans 9:17).
The Destiny of God’s Truth
The hardening of the heart causes the need for more truth to be revealed, which the honorable vessels continue to press into and manifest as they walk and stand in it, causing even further hardening of the heart for the dishonorable vessels to maintain their way. Even as Paul states in Romans 5:20, Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Even as John 1:17 affirms; For the law was given by Moses (that the offense might abound), but grace and truth (did much more abound) came by Jesus Christ. As the Truth is increasingly revealed by grace, the dishonorable vessels will eventually come to acknowledge God, even as the Egyptians did.
Whether broken or destroyed correction is done. For we all have a truth threshold. This “truth threshold” is like an auto-ignition temperature of various kinds of material. Each material has its own temperature with which it is ignited. Some material takes less heat for it to ignite than others. It is the same with men, who differ in the amount of truth needed for their own conversion. Consider truth as heat, For our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29). As the truth is increasingly revealed in and through the honorable vessels, the truth threshold in each person is eventually met. This variation of different thresholds is seen in the response of the disciples to the resurrection of Jesus; For the “beloved disciple” believed immediately (John 20:8), whereas Peter wondered (Luke 24:12) and Thomas refused to believe until he could see and touch Him (John 20:25). Yet eventually each threshold was met as the truth intensified. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God (Romans 14:11).
Have Ears to Hear
All things whether visible or invisible are formed by the Word of God. Yet how that Word is received determines whether man’s heart is hardened against or conformed unto the image of Christ. Jesus says in John 6:45, “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.” Those that don’t come to Jesus refused to hear and be taught of the Father. The Father speaks to us through His creation and teaches us upon our pondering of it. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse (Romans 1:20). Therefore when Jesus said in verse 44 “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him,” He is in no way referring that the Father randomly chooses some out of the population to come to Christ and others not. For God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). Creation is an overwhelming testimony of our Creator, and those who hear and are taught by His testimony are drawn unto His Son.
The Father provides repentance as a gift (Act 11:18, 2Timothy 2:25) which is administered to man by the truth. It is man’s responsibility to consent and respond to it’s call. The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Therefore repentance is a gift from God to all, yet must be received by man upon its revelation. For this reason Jesus says in Matthew 13:9, “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”