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Earthen Vessels Holding Divine Light

Earthen Vessels Holding Divine Light

Last updated on: September 6, 2026 at 1:08 am by Henry Karlson

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Earthen Vessels Holding Divine Light 2026-09-06T01:08:36-05:00 Henry Karlson

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Dnshitobu: Earthen vessels and bowls made of clay /Wikimedia Commons

While the kingdom of God is not of this earth, that is, it is not established and has its authority coming from the created order, this does not mean the kingdom of God is completely separate from the world we live in. The kingdom of God transcends the world, but also is found within it; it is not comprehended by the world, but rather, it penetrates the world and flows beyond it. The kingdom is not of this world, but the world is of the kingdom. We might now be considered “earthen vessels,” living at a particular time and place, making us a part of the world, but we are more than that, we are, with the rest of the world, a part of the kingdom of God. We must realize that the kingdom of God is found within us. We don’t normally perceive it either because we do not know how to do so, because it is spiritual and we are more attuned to physical reality, or our sins get in the way, keeping the kingdom covered from our spiritual sight.

Even when we do not perceive it, especially when we do not perceive it, we can be rest assured that the kingdom of God is within us, sharing with us grace, the grace which we need to be free to decide for ourselves what we want to do. Because the kingdom of God is all around us, and within us, we are given opportunity after opportunity to open ourselves up to it and the light of grace (and with that grace, with that light, the means we need to apprehend even spiritual realities). Indeed, it can be said that our freedom, our free will, no matter how limited it has become, reveals to us our placement in the kingdom of God. It shows we are not mere material objects without subjectivity. It is evidence we are more than material, and that grace is working in our lives to make sure we do not end up undermining and destroying our subjectivity. That is, our awareness of our freedom and with it, the truth that we do have some level of personal freedom, that we are not mere machines, is proof that the kingdom of God is within us, giving us grace after grace, for without it, we would not only be able to perceive our freedom, we would have none of it.

Even though our sense of freedom, and how much freedom we have been given, is limited, and often with more limits imposed upon it thank to our sinful actions, it is always there. We are always aware of our freedom. Sometimes we struggle to understand it. Sometimes we try to suggest it is an illusion. But it is not. We have the ability to make decisions for ourselves. To act on our own accord. The kingdom of God is giving us that ability. It is giving us the light and grace we need not only to make decisions for ourselves, but to make good decision. It is as if we have found ourselves in a dark room, and we see in it a dim light, a light which we go to and find is capable of being made brighter if we adjust it; if we make it brighter, we will see around the room, and all that is in it, but if we do not, we will be extremely limited in what we see, and with it, find ourselves often bumping into, if not tripping over, whatever else is in the room. And so, the one who said, “let there be light,” at the time of creation, brought all things into the kingdom of God; now the same one is shining the light of truth, the light of grace, within us, within our hearts, making sure the darkness of untruth, the darkness of unfreedom, the darkness of sin, never obtains a complete hold of us:

For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us (2 Cor. 4:6-7 RSV).

Christ is the Word of God, the Logos, who, with the Father and the Spirit, established all creation; in Christ, the Logos, all things are given form, their own logos, making them all logoi which reflect, in their own way, the Logos. They all reflect the divine light of the Logos, a light which is spiritual, not physical, showing how they all have their own inner spiritual nature. Thus, in our very being, in our logos, in our unique personal form, we find the light of the kingdom of God, and it is at work in us Even though we can be described as being “earthen vessels,” the transcendent power of God is in us, shining forth in us, giving us the light which we need to discern where we are at, granting us all kinds of possibilities for us to choose from. We need to embrace that light, to embrace the grace given to us, and the more we do so, the more we will find the light shines and grows brighter, revealing to us, more of and more of the opportunities, revealing to us, how our freedom can grow in and with it. The light encourages us to engage our choices with wisdom. How do we do so? By embracing our conscience, for God works in and with us through it. That is, we find in it directions God gives us to help us decide what possibilities are good, and which are not so good, for us. Beyond that, God reveals to us, through our conscience, that the way of the kingdom of God is love. The voice of God is the voice of love. This is why, when Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment is, he answered that it is love:

And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets” (Matt. 22:35-40 RSV).

We are called to love. God is love, and the kingdom of God is the kingdom of love. The more we love, the more we find the light of grace enlightening us, helping us to love more, to love even better. The more we love, the more we listen to our conscience, following the way of love, the better we will be able to perceive the kingdom of God as it is found within us.

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N.B.: While I read comments to moderate them, I rarely respond to them. If I don’t respond to your comment directly, don’t assume I am unthankful for it. I appreciate it. But I want readers to feel free to ask questions, and hopefully, dialogue with each other. I have shared what I wanted to say, though some responses will get a brief reply by me, or, if I find it interesting and something I can engage fully, as the foundation for another post. I have had many posts inspired or improved upon thanks to my readers.

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