Infamous

October 14 Jeremiah 23:21-25:38

Object Lessons That Demand Obedience

Infamous

Today’s object lesson is about figs… Good Figs and Bad Figs.

God gave Jeremiah a vision of two baskets of figs placed in front of the LORD'S Temple.

“One basket was filled with fresh, ripe figs, while the other was filled with bad figs that were too rotten to eat. Then the LORD said to me, ‘What do you see, Jeremiah?” Jeremiah replied, “Figs, some very good and some very bad, too rotten to eat.” (Jer. 24:1-3)

God then gave him the meaning of the vision. The good figs represent the exiles that He sent from Judah to the land of captivity under the Babylonians. God would watch over them and bring them back home again. He promised to build them up and not tear them down. (24:5-6)

You see, in the flesh, it looked like they had lost everything, but in the spirit, they were being saved through their captivity. They would one day return to the homeland to worship God.

As for the bad figs, they were too rotten to eat. They were good for nothing except for spoiling the other food around them. Here is what God revealed to Jeremiah. He said that He would make them an “OBJECT of HORROR” and a “SYMBOL OF EVIL”

He went on to explain to Jeremiah that they would be disgraced and mocked, taunted, and cursed. They would be SCATTERED, and WAR, FAMINE, and DISEASE would take them.

Have you noticed the SEVERE WARNING to false priests?

“Even the priests and prophets are ungodly, wicked men. I have seen their despicable acts right here in my own Temple, says the LORD. Therefore, the paths they take will become slippery. They will be chased through the dark, and there they will fall. For I will bring disaster upon them at the time fixed for their punishment. I, the LORD, have spoken!”( Jer. 23: 11-12)

God, not only kept HIS word about “Rotten Figs” in the book of Jeremiah, but HE also has a ‘history’ of taking care of “Rotten Figs”.

Do you remember Eli and his two wicked sons who lived in the temple? If you remember the story, you know that both sons died, and “Exhorbatant Eli” fell backward off his STOOL, and that was the end of that wicked RULE! (I Sam. 4:12-22)

Note that Eli ruled as the priest in the temple for 40 long years. God had warned him, but he had not listened… and then the time of judgment came quickly and what was hidden became revealed.

Does God still deal with his spiritual leaders in the same way today?

One of the most scandalous stories in recent years involved a powerhouse televangelist couple who created a media empire, broadcasting network, and even a theme park.

This man's dream was to create “a Christian version of the Tonight Show”. He said, “It’s not listed in the Bible but my spiritual gift, my specific calling from God, is to be a television talk-show host.”

Together, with his wife, he got his dream and hosted a popular show which aired until 1987. They talked about current affairs and even hosted guests such as Ronald Reagan on the show. The problem was they didn’t just talk about current affairs, he lived that life also! In fact, he paid hush money to keep this fact hidden.

They preached “The Prosperity Gospel”.. Peace. Wealth. Financial and Material Success. Their TV audience tithed in the belief that they would receive the same blessings that they saw and heard flaunted from the wealthy hosts. People sent money for blessings…

Then “the house came crashing down”... The prophet, TV host, and prosperity preacher was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison (reduced to eight years) for eight counts of mail fraud, 15 counts of wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy. The couple divorced…

You see, the world may be blinded and not see the wrong road that they are being led down, but God always sees. Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, and He brings righteous judgment…

"I see everything they do. Nothing is hidden from me; their sins do not escape my sight… For I am watching all their ways; they are not hidden from my sight! (Jeremiah 16:17)

The same warning is repeated in the New Testament in the book of Luke and Matthew, “So, do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed or hidden that will not be made known.” (Mt. 10:26)

The message of Jeremiah is still true, “There is a difference between STRAW and GRAIN!”

Today’s object lesson that demands obedience is to remember the “Bad Figs” and the “Good Figs”.

If you search for information about this televangelist, the first words that come up are, “Convicted Fraudster”.

In seeking to be “Famous”, Jimmy Bakker became “Infamous”!

Sadly, he’s not the first, and he won’t be the last. Just ask Jeremiah and Jerusalem…

“I will make you an object of ridicule; your name will be INFAMOUS throughout the ages.” (23:40)