Rotten Figs Part Deux

In today’s scripture there’s a problem under the surface that still exists to today. In reading the words of Jeremiah in verse 3, we hear it as: “There are ripe figs and rotten figs.” The Lord goes on to explain that there are some in the community of faith who He knows are frauds. They are posing as believers but don’t really live their lives for the Father. They are actors or players or poser or just plain liars.

In the TV show Survivor, there are always contestants who play the game. They are always scheming and lying and being phony. Sometimes they get away with their tactics and sometimes they don’t. For the times when they don’t, the show has what is called an immunity bracelet or necklace. The immunity necklace allows you to stop worrying about if you are going to get voted off the island. As a result, the weeks a contestant has it their tactics change. They are much bolder in their approaches.

Jeremiah our biblical survivor acts like he has always worn an immunity necklace. If you read from where we left off last week in chapter 12 to today’s chapter 24 you would have read how Jeremiah was so bold to tell the king he wasn’t a leader, the diviners they would lose the big battle and high priest and all his buddies that they were frauds. Jeremiah was not afraid. He took on the challenge. He paid the price but he got up again. He stood for God. He was bold!

I sometimes I wish I was as bold. Lately, I have been in a number of institutions and realize I would really like to say what’s on my mind but I don’t. I know I am not going to be physically harassed or killed for my views but it feels like it. I feel uncomfortable. Maybe you know what I mean: “If we shout to loud, we might be labeled a troublemaker or if we don’t speak up, we run the risk of being thought of as a doormat. It can be hard sometimes to know the right avenue to take in given situation but there is a solution if you know Jesus and live out your faith.

The Lord teaches us through Jeremiah that God bestows his grace on those He sees change their hearts toward Him. Jeremiah uses the word, Heart. It is a popular word for him. It expresses the inner self or motive. However, people sometimes have arterial motives don’t they? These can be both conscious and unconscious. It is particularly disturbing to think someone could be judged because of their unconscious motive. This is why this scripture tends to disturb some individuals. There is still a price to pay for being a part of group that doesn’t know the Father. While it’s in God’s nature to always want to offer His love or restore his love to those willing to step across the line to faith, God does not hold back from those who claim to believe but who reject him either overtly or covertly. We don’t like to think about them. It puts too much pressure on our own journey because we then have to ask the tough questions like: What do I really believe? And who really is a Christian? Does God judge and condemn those who do not believe and worship Him?

There are those who say that God no longer thinks this way. That the writers of the Bible are writing from their historical and cultural background and since we’ve evolved over the years so has God. You need only believe in Jesus and everything will be just fine. This is such a lie because the demons even know Jesus name. Even the Devil and Hitler quote scripture. Obviously, this is flawed theology and doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.

The view that God has changed His character between the Old and New testaments is false. God does not change. God abhorred those who were being posers, fakers or insincere followers in the Old Testament times. Our reading today confirmed that. And Jesus said clearly in the Gospel of Matthew 7:21-23 that there would be those who thought they were believers but were not.

Jesus said: Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (NIV).

Our Lord and God doesn’t look kindly on those who are not willing to believe whole heartily in Him and have faith in any age.