A L M A C I A S

A VESSEL UNTO HONOR

We are familiar with dishes and sliverware. At one time or another, we have set aside special dishes and special silverware for a special occasion. Perhaps a family member is about to get married or graduate from high school or college, and we want to honor him or her with a special dinner. We do this to show how pleased we are for this person's accomplishment. We do not use just any kind of dishes or just any silverware, but rather the very best we own. In the second letter Paul wrote to Timothy, the apostle made the same comparison of those of us who are members of the Lord's church. In 2 Timothy 2:19-25, the apostle Paul stated how the Lord knows who are His, and how all who claim to belong to Him should depart from iniquity. It is here that the apostle begins to discuss how we are the ones who determine what kind of vessels we are going to be in the Lord's church. We can either be vessels unto honor or vessels unto dishonor.

Let us look at the above-mentioned verses and determine what kind of vessels we are. Also, let us find out what it takes for one to be a vessel of honor and why it is so important that we all be vessels of honor. The first thing that Paul said concerning how one could be a vessel of honor was that one needs to depart from iniquity. We are just deceiving ourselves if we think that we can live like the world and still get to Heaven. In Matthew 7:13,14, the Lord Himself states that there are only two roads that a man can take; and only one of the two will take one to Heaven. There is no "middle road," as some may be thinking. In 2 Timothy, Paul said that it is very important that we be vessels of honor, in order that we be sanctified, meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work. The Lord does not want to use people who are leading sinful lives in His work. Think about this for a moment, and you will understand how ineffective one would be who does not practice what they preach. We need to avoid being like the Pharisees of the first century, of whom the Lord said to others to do as they say, but not as they do. The Pharisees were just pretenders, they were not the real thing. If we want to be vessels of honor, we are going to need to be real Christians.

For those who were young, Paul said that if they wanted to be vessels of honor they would need to flee youthful lusts. When one is young, he may be faced with a lot more temptations than one who is already old. And that is why the apostle Paul told Timothy, and anyone else who was still young, what they needed to do to be vessels of honor. They needed to not only flee youthful lusts, but also they needed to pursue, or follow, righteousness, faith, charity, peace with all who called on the Lord (their fellow Christians). Also, if we all want to be vessels of honor, we should not strive, but rather be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, and in meekness instruct those who oppose themselves. What kind of vessels are we in the Lord's church?