Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. The Lord showed Jeremiah
two different baskets of figs. The fruit in one basket is described
as good figs and the other as naughty figs. This is a very
quaint use of the term naughty and I might add a somewhat humorous
one. One usually associates naughtiness with action which it seems unlikely
for a fig to be involved in. One can only laugh when he pictures
a fig disobeying the tree from which it fell. The context of
the passage, however, makes clear the meaning of the term, to be
those which are spoiled or rotten. In this illustration, the Lord
goes on to make the application that the good figs, those He
selected, represent His people, and the naughty or evil figs
represent the wicked, who He has rejected. Generally speaking,
men don't like to consider the fact that God chooses some and
rejects others solely on the basis of his own free choice.
Men don't reject the notion that a choice is made in this matter.
They just do not want the choice to be made by God. They would
rather take comfort in their own supposed ability and desire
to choose God than to have themselves cast upon the mercy of God. But
the man who has become acquainted with that boundless mercy finds
comfort nowhere else. The scripture is very clear that
there is a separation made between the people of God, the elect,
and the children of this world, the reprobate. Many descriptive
phrases and names are used to describe this difference. The
sheep and the goats, the wheat and the tares, the faithless
and the believing, the living and the dead, are all names used
to set forth the fact that God has made a difference between
His people and the men of this world. We are sometimes accused
of spending too much time in discussing election. Our critics
say we see it on every page in the scripture. We have to plead
guilty as charged because this precious truth is taught throughout
the whole of scripture. This is not just some little
optional doctrine which a man may take or leave at his own
pleasure. This doctrine is the very basis upon which redemption
rests. Had there been no election, there
would have been no redemption. The very fact that God chooses
to save some is an indication that He loves His creation and
intends to save it. That which is despised is not
usually preserved. Most of our critics think that
the epitome of gospel preaching is to tell everybody how much
God loves all of them, as if this will somehow melt their
heart. We often hear them proclaim this error, saying God gives
or owes every man a chance to be saved. But salvation is not
by chance, but is according to the design and purpose of the
God who has loved his own from the foundation of the world.
In Jeremiah's vision of the two baskets of figs, we see, first
of all, that any fig left alone will soon rot because of the
nature of corruption that's in it. The naughty figs demonstrate
the wickedness of man by nature. The curse of sin introduced death
and destruction into this world. So it should come as no surprise
to see a basket of rotten figs cast away. God is pleased to
manifest His glory and grace by contrasting His choice of
one basket of figs in which was the same nature of corruption
with the other. These naughty figs most likely
came from the same tree that the good figs did. The only difference
between the spoiled and good figs was that the good figs were
freshly picked, whereas the spoiled figs had been left to themselves
and not eaten. God's choice alone makes the
difference between the two bowls of figs. If the bowl of good
figs were left till the next day, they too would have been
spoiled. Without the mercy of God extended to them, even the
elect would perish. All men, without exception, have
the same sinful nature, and left to their own selves will always
choose the path of sin and destruction." The Lord selected a bowl of figs
to be eaten when He did not have to choose any. Some seem to think
that the Lord is under some kind of obligation to save men because
He created them. The fact is that the election
of a people in Jesus Christ is a great display of grace and
mercy. All men deserve destruction, yet God, who is rich in mercy,
has chosen to save some. Had He chosen to save none, He
still would have been just and good and worthy of our worship.
To demonstrate His grace in choosing to save some, He passed by others. Who can fully comprehend the
glory of God's grace manifested in a sin-cursed world? Who can
pronounce Himself worthy of such grace? For who maketh Thee to
differ from another? And what hast Thou that Thou
didst not receive? Now if Thou didst receive it,
why dost Thou glory as if Thou hadst not received it? Do you
rejoice in the mercy of God given to guilty sinners? Or do you
expect to stand before Him in your own righteousness? For a
free CD containing 15 of these radio broadcasts, send an email
to forthepoor at windstream.net.