Jars of Clay

While on vacation we visited the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Inside were artifacts from the Roman era. This is a small clay lamp that is about 2000 years old. When I saw it I thought of Paul's words:

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that his all surpassing power is from God and not from us." (2 Cor. 4:7). Paul is alluding to the fact that Bible says we were created by God from dust. We are earth and to the earth we will return is roughly what Job said. Though we are simple jars of clay in one sense, we are containers of an amazing glory in another. I am not talking about the beauty or complexity of the human body, but the potential of the human body to house the Holy Spirit.

The follower of Jesus has the Holy Spirit living on the inside. The Holy Spirit is the power that allows us to live pure, think holy, and work for God. 1 Corinthians 6 says that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We have an amazing treasure on the inside.

Jesus said that his followers are the light of the world. Paul may have been thinking about Jesus statement and this type of little clay lamp when he wrote 2 Corinthians 4:7. We are simple little jars, not much to look at, but we carry a priceless treasure inside, the power of the Holy Spirit and the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.