Thursday, July 24,
2014, 7:10 a.m. – the Lord Jesus put the song in mind, “Give God the Glory.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Jeremiah 24 (NIV).
Baskets of Figs
After
Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and the officials, the skilled
workers and the artisans of Judah were carried into exile from Jerusalem to
Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Lord showed me two baskets of
figs placed in front of the temple of the Lord. One basket had very good figs,
like those that ripen early; the other basket had very bad figs, so bad they
could not be eaten.
Then
the Lord asked me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?”
“Figs,”
I answered. “The good ones are very good, but the bad ones are so bad they
cannot be eaten.”
Then
the word of the Lord came to me: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel,
says: ‘Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I
sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians. My eyes will watch
over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build
them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will
give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I
will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.
“‘But
like the bad figs, which are so bad they cannot be eaten,’ says the Lord, ‘so
will I deal with Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials and the survivors from
Jerusalem, whether they remain in this land or live in Egypt. I will make them
abhorrent and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a reproach and a
byword, a curse and an object of ridicule, wherever I banish them. I will send
the sword, famine and plague against them until they are destroyed from the
land I gave to them and their ancestors.’”
The Exile
God called Jeremiah to speak to his children Israel
concerning their spiritual adultery against God, and concerning their idolatry.
Time and time again the Lord had sent his messengers and prophets to speak to
his people about their rebellion, to warn them of judgment, and to call them to
repentance, but they would not listen. So, God told them that judgment was
coming in the form of King Neb of Babylon, and that they would be in captivity for
a period of 70 years. They were to cooperate with the king and they were to
submit to his rule.
Presently God is calling his people Israel – not the
physical nation, but the people of God, his church – to repent of their
idolatry, spiritual adultery and rebellion against God. He has sent his messengers
throughout the world proclaiming the truths of his word (the Bible, in
particular the teachings of Christ and the apostles), calling the church to
repentance, and warning them of judgment if they do not repent (See the book of
Isaiah and Rev. 2-3). We read in the book of Revelation where the saints of God
will be persecuted severely for their faith in Christ, will be taken into
captivity, and that many will be put to death for their faith. I believe this
is already happening in many nations throughout the world, and at the hands of
the New World Order (Beast), and that the USA government is leading the charge
in this.
Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were among the exiles
who were taken into captivity into Babylon. They serve as examples for us in
the manner in which we are to submit to the rulers over us, and even the manner
in which we should submit to the “beast” of Revelation, should we happen to be
here when the day arrives when he has truly risen to the place of king of the
world and he sits as conqueror and as ruler of all nations and all peoples. We
are to submit to even evil rulers as long as what we are asked to do does not
go against God and against his word. We are not to resist those God places in
authority over us unless they order us to do what is contrary to the will of
God for our lives, such as we are not to make anything or anyone our god in
place of God, we are not to deny the name of Jesus, and we are not to stop
speaking or praying in the name of our Lord.
Good and Bad
Jeremiah was shown two baskets of figs. In one basket, the
figs were good. In the other basket, the figs were bad. I wanted to learn the
significance of the illustration of the figs, so I did a little research on the
subject. What I learned, which I know I have read before, is that in the Old
and New Testaments God used the fig tree as a symbol of his people Israel, i.e.
the children of promise, i.e. now the church of today. The condition of the
figs, whether good or bad, represents the spiritual condition of those who
claim to be God’s people, now what is called the church of today. [Ref: http://www.gotquestions.org/curse-fig-tree.html.]
In the gospels we read the account of Jesus Christ cursing
the fig tree because it had no fruit. It was not yet the season for bearing
fruit, but since the tree already had leaves on it, the expectation was to find
fruit there, as well. It had the appearance from a distance of a fruit-bearing
tree, but up close it was obvious that no fruit was to be found. That is the
way it is with many who call themselves Christians today. They give off the
appearance of being in relationship with Jesus Christ, but upon closer
examination it becomes obvious that they do not know the one they claim to
follow. He may be on their lips, but he is not in their hearts. They are the
bad figs. The good figs are those in genuine relationship with Jesus.
Two Baskets
The interesting thing of note here is that both baskets
contained figs. The figs represented the nation of Israel. At the time this was
written, though, it appears that both groups were not listening to the Lord,
which is why they were both being judged (See Jer. 29:15-23). Yet, God knew who
would turn to him or who would return to him with all their heart. They were
the good figs. They were the ones he would watch over, build up, plant, and
give them a heart to know him. They would be his true people, and he would be
their God. The bad figs would never turn to the Lord, but would always live in
rebellion against him. They were not the true children of God, though they may
have had the appearance of being so.
Another interesting thing of note, going along with this
idea here, is that the figs represented two separate groups of people. Although
they were both figs, one was good and one was bad. They were not blended
together, either. So, it is today with the physical meetings of the church,
especially as the church meets in the culture of today here in America. Within
our church congregations exist those who truly believe in Jesus, and those who
clearly do not, and/or those who give only the appearance of faith in Christ
but who have never truly ever been born from above of the Spirit of God. They
are not all the true church (the basket containing the good figs), yet they
meet with the church and they may even think themselves to be Christians, but
they are not, for they are in form only.
I believe scripture teaches us that when this time of
judgment comes upon the earth at the end of time, which may have already begun
to some degree, and the church is revived, and the people God foreknew would
turn to him with all their hearts do return to their Lord, there will no longer
be this blending of good and bad figs, but truly they will be separate as God
has commanded us to be separate from the world. While it is true that we are to
go out into the world to share with them the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to
lead them to be followers of him, we are not to immerse ourselves in the
culture around us, or to blend in with the ungodly in order to “connect” with
them so that we can “reach” them. We are to be set apart (unlike; different)
from the world and set apart to God and to his service.
Two Choices
In the Old Testament, the people were divided Jew and
Gentile, i.e. God’s people and the people who were not God’s people. The same
is today, only different. Today the two groups are Saved and Unsaved;
regenerate and unregenerate. Jesus Christ, through his death and resurrection,
made both Jew and Gentile one in Christ, forming “one man” out of the two. Only
those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives are truly
Israel. They are the good figs. All others, including Jewish people, are the
bad figs, i.e. those who are not God’s people by faith in Jesus Christ. So, in
essence, God made it that unbelieving Jews are now numbered among the Gentile
nations, for they are of Hagar, the slave woman, and most likely they are
numbered among those who are trampling the Holy City, the heavenly Jerusalem,
the true church, the Body of Christ via severe persecution and even beheadings.
Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, taking upon
himself the sins of the entire world. When he died, our sins died with him, and
when he rose from the dead, he conquered hell, Satan, death and sin. By faith
in him we can be forgiven of our sins, can be set free from the penalty of sin –
eternal damnation – can be delivered out of bondage to sinful lifestyles, and
can be set free to walk daily in his righteousness and holiness in the power
and working of the Spirit within us (See Ro. 6-8; Eph. 4:17-24; Gal. 2:20;
& 1 Jn. 1-5). This is why he died, so that we would no longer live for
ourselves but for him who gave himself up for us (See 2 Co. 5:15). In fact, his
grace teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live
self-controlled and upright lives in this present age while we wait for his return
(See Tit. 2:11-14). This is true grace! This is true freedom! This is our
salvation!
The choice is yours. Do you want to end up in the basket
with the good figs or in the basket with the bad figs? Will you turn or return
to Jesus Christ with all your heart, and to truly make him the Lord of your
life? Will you turn from living for sin and self and submit your life to Jesus
Christ and allow him to rule your life? Will you follow him in obedience and do
whatever he asks you to do? Will you allow him to give you a heart to know him?
Or, will you reject him, rebel against him, and say “No” to his call?
Give God the Glory
/ An Original Work
Based off Psalm 19 /
March 10, 2014
All of creation now
proclaims:
“Give God the glory;
honor His name!”
Each day the stars in
heav’n above
Show forth His wisdom;
tell of His love.
They do not speak.
They have no voice.
Yet, they declare we
have a choice:
“Worship the God of
heav’n above;
Believe in Jesus;
trust in His love.”
God’s word is perfect,
just and good,
Refreshing souls who
trust in the Lord;
Makes wise the simple;
radiant -
Lighting our lives
with God’s righteousness.
Joy to the heart His
words now speak;
Pure and enduring, now
we seek.
They are more precious
than our gold;
Sweeter than honey; never
grow old.
Keeping the word
brings great reward.
By the word Jesus
speaks and He warns,
Convicting hearts of
all their sin;
Forgiving all who call
upon Him.
Praying You keep me,
Lord, from sins.
May they not rule my
life again.
Then will I walk in
all Your ways,
Following Jesus all of
my days.
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