And the LORD said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I said, “Figs, the good figs very good, and the bad figs very bad, so bad that they cannot be eaten.”
Jeremiah 24:3 ESV
The Lord showed Jeremiah two baskets of figs, one containing good figs, while the other held bad figs. The Lord said the good figs represented people He would draw closer to Himself. Although Jeremiah considered the first figs as good, God saw their need for a new heart (v. 7).
This reveals a vital truth: being called good by men is not the same as being good before God. God saw that they, too, required purging and transformation. The renewal of the heart is necessary for everyone, no matter how righteous they may seem to others.
The fact that others count you as good does not mean God does. You can appear good yet still have a heart that is far from God. The truth is, even the good must return to the Lord with all their heart.
The lesson here is clear: never assume that the praise of people guarantees your standing before God. Do not allow the compliments or approval of others to become your standard. Instead, let God be the One to search your heart through and through, drawing you closer to Him.
Jeremiah saw figs that looked good and pleasing for eating. But God saw beyond their appearance. He saw hearts that were distant from Him, hearts that needed renewal and intimacy with their Creator. What matters most is not what people say about you, but whether you have been given a new heart.
Living It Out
Take a moment to ask God to search your heart today. Do not rely on the approval of others to measure your faith, but seek His transforming work within you. True goodness comes only from Him. Let His Spirit renew your heart daily so that your life reflects His standard, not human applause.