“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels” (2 Cor. 4:7 NKJ).
This verse presents a divine paradox: immutable deity dwelling in a breakable container…the Creator of the heavens and earth residing in a clay vessel…eternal permanence abiding in a time-captive housing.
The paradox has to do with completion and in-completion. As human beings, we are not complete till our divine Creator has taken up His abode in our hearts. For some reason known only to Him, the Almighty, the Eternal, has chosen the human heart as His place of rest.
We are created with a void in our hearts, which only He can fill. By His own design, neither creature nor Creator function properly till He becomes incarnate in us. Without His Spirit, we can do nothing in our weak flesh. In His infinite wisdom He has chosen not to manifest Himself in the universe without our mortal bodies. Therefore, neither of us functions adequately without the cooperation of the other.
In the original Greek, this word translated earthen is ostrakinos (os-tra’-kin-os) which is defined as “made of clay, brittle, fragile, easily broken.” God has chosen to invest His frail human creatures with a treasure of inestimable value.
Treasure is also an interesting word. In the original Greek, it is thesaurus (thay-sow-ros’). It refers to deposited wealth, amassed riches, reserves of great value, a hoard of priceless valuables.
God’s Spirit in us is like all the country’s gold in Fort Knox. He is the treasure, we are the vault. God has taken the riches of His Holy Spirit and stored them in our bodies. The contrast between the two is so great. He gets all the focus, the attention and the recognition!
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Dick Mills was ordained at The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in 1949. He and his wife Betty traveled as evangelists all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, and Australia. Dick and Betty are now home in heaven.
In 1966 Dick and Betty became a part of the then-emerging Charismatic Renewal. Passing through all denominational barriers, Dick has had the opportunity to speak in thousands of churches of varied backgrounds all over the world.
He ministered within several Christian organizations, including the Full Gospel Business Men, Women's Aglow, Inter-church Renewal Catholic Pentecostals, mainline Charismatic groups, CBN and TBN television networks, and many other independent Christian TV stations.
Dick appeared on numerous radio talk shows, written several magazine articles, and spoke at many Bible conferences and universities. He served as an adjunct professor at six Schools of the Bible and Seminaries.
In addition, Dick authored and co-authored several books and tapes. Dick's ministry was characterized by the unique gifts God has blessed him with. His services informed, enlightened, and motivated people to a higher level of commitment to God.