IMTS Global

MEMORIAL - On a Personal Note: Pressed Out

The following poem, entitled "Pressed Out" was written by Walter Knight, and appeared in Tan's Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations:

Pressed Out
Pressed out of measure and pressed to all length,
Pressed so intensely it seems beyond strength;
Pressed in the body and pressed in the soul,
Pressed in the mind till the dark surges roll;
Pressure by foes, and pressure by friends,
Pressure on pressure, till life nearly ends,
Pressed into loving the staff and the rod;
Pressed into knowing no helper but God;
Pressed into liberty where nothing clings,
Pressed into faith for impossible things;
Pressed into living a life in the Lord,
Pressed into living a Christ-life outpoured!

I sense many a head quietly and reflectively nodding as the aforementioned poem is pondered. You've been there; you have struggled, suffered and both silently and audibly cried out in anguish. You've been pressed in the body with physical malady and travail beyond what you could ever imagine, endured mental duress making the simplest task laborious, and experienced the walls which surround you, in the past acted as your fortress and place of solace, now caving in upon you and becoming your prison's solitary confinement. To make matters worse, every source of comfort and encouragement you once enjoyed have turned upon you leaving you in an unfamiliar place of despair and detachment. Perhaps you are presently there, or just entering these uncharted territories.

For you, Paul's despair and the reality of humanity may well become your mantra as you read and echo his sentiments:

2 Cor 4:7-10
7	But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves;
8	we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;
9	persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
10	always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. (NAS)

Well that just about does it, not only are we to suffer and despair, but we are to know the reality - we are nothing but clay pots. Simple vessels, fragile, imperfect and quite vulnerable are we.

I can still remember as a child my fascination with clay. The fragrance of that newly opened package of multi-colored, modeling clay was intoxicating to me. Not the fancy stuff in yellow-covered containers children play with today, but the good old fashion clay that came in plastic wrapping and usually appeared in such drab colors as dull yellow, blue and green. There was a specific texture and veracity this clay possessed that was all too familiar to my hands. The clay would take on innumerable shapes, sizes and silhouettes throughout the long afternoons (usually while pouring outside) that I would attend to it. Perhaps my favorite items to make with clay were vessels and containers. I would shape, mold, pound, carve and detail each vessel. They were all unique, and although serving similar purposes, seemed to have distinct features and identities. Some with handles, some without, others deep and functional, while some shallow yet ornate.

One thing however seemed to be common to each, all started as a formless lump of clay, and began by being pounded into oblivion, compressed (pressed), compacted, with all air bubbles removed and thus ensuring a properly formed vessel. They were then kneaded, stretched, pulled, tethered, and carved into shape to be fit for their ultimate purpose. When they dried, I often painted my vessels with colorful modeling paint to cover any blemish or imperfection I had left and to add to their attractiveness. Finally, I would place my prize possessions in each vessel. Sitting aloft my favorite shelf they, and their contents, would be the envy of all of my friends (at least I imagined so).

Paul's declaration and confession should both encourage and remind us that like my simple clay vessels, we too have a valuable and distinct purpose. He writes, "...we have this treasure in earthen vessels". Can you imagine that the Father of all Creation would choose you and I to contain "His treasure"? The pressures that "form us" and afford us our shape are both precious and vitally necessary. It was this understanding of clay, composition and ultimately consecration that Paul also wrote:

Rom 5:3-4
3	And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
4	and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; (NAS)

Peter likewise must have "dabbled in clay" for he too understood the necessity of being "pressed and compressed", and he wrote:

1 Pet 1:6-7
6	In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
7	that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (NAS)

May we too "...be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ". May we yield to the gentle but persistent Hand of the Almighty as He crafts, craves and consecrates us. May we never reject His touch, but understand it's perfect timing and precision.

My friend, are you feeling downtrodden dismayed or depressed today? Have you rejected the Hand that is to both comfort and convert you? Then like yet one more clay-dabbler heed the words and principles espoused by our brother Hosea as he writes:

Hosea 6:1-3
1	"Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.
2	"He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day That we may live before Him
3	"So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth." (NAS)

Coram Deo,

Jeff Ellis
Elder of Education and Administration