Treasure in a Poop Pot

For we have this treasure in earthen vessels.  2 Cor. 4:7

Ok, the title may attract some of us that have somehow that little kid sense of grossness.  A few weeks ago while we were in the Virginia Beach area for a wedding, we stopped and saw the Museum of Grossology.  Now before you draw the wrong conclusions, it was a part of the Air and Space Museum (figure that) and that is what we paid admission for.  So imagine every combination of gasses coming out of various orifices along with lots to learn about snot, or vomit.  It would be every little boys dream.  So what does that have to do with this blog?

Earthen vessels were common clay pots used for collecting everyday things.  They were disposable, clay pots and most commonly used to collect waste including human waste.  So the picture Paul uses is that these most lowly of pots that is used for waste is actually carrying the most unimaginable treasure known to man.  When we visited Rwanda,, we saw our share of slit toilets.  Debsue obsessed with taking pictures of slit toilets took this picture of the jar by the toilet that was actually in a high end getaway place near where people visit the gorillas.  The sign kindly encouraged you to use the clay pot to collect your waste – one for number 1 and one for number 2 and please don’t mix the two.

What is that treasure?  The gospel of Christ that shines in our hearts.as light shining in darkness (v.6).  The gospel shines like a beacon through to our broken bodies that are slowly decomposing to reveal the stunning glory of the gospel of Christ.  There is no greater contrast than what Paul uses.  Earthen vessels is crap, man!  The gospel is the most precious jewel that is implanted. 

I recently had a piece of artwork appraised.  Unfortunately the artwork was not very valuable.  But what I did learn is that the glass plate was obscuring the painting and potentially damaging it.  Further, the painting, if it had been priceless was being surrounded by a frame that was less than stellar.  Thus, the priceless treasure of the gospel is housed in less than satisfactory frame.  However, the treasure is so strong that it can absolutely overwhelm and obscure the less than satisfactory frame it is held in.  If the artwork had been priceless, I am sure the appraiser could have given two hoots and a holler about how bad the frame was. 

The treasure stands in stark contrast to the vessel it is held in.  It is priceless!