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[Problem Solved]

Jeremiah 8:20

"The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved."

My pastor brought this up, and it has absolutely hit home. Let us not waste our time; let us use the time that God has given us to the fullest possible extent...

What do you think?

[jimwalton]

I think the text relates to the position of the Jews of Judah at the time. It is describing a time of famine when, because of invading armies, there was no opportunity to harvest.

I think it applies to us in that we are looking at (in Jer. 8.20) punishment for perpetual backsliding. The people are not saved because they...

• chose death (8.3)
• were unrepentant (8.6)
• were unobservant (8.7)
• proud of their intellect (8.8-10)
• self-deceived (8.11)
• utterly shameless (8.12)
• carnally optimistic (8.15)
• and religious only in formalities but not in the heart (8.19).

The message to them was explaining why they face a prospect of winter without food. The message for us is a warning about the consequences of perpetual backsliding, hypocrisy, carnality, and lack of repentance. For us the message would be spiritual in nature, rather than physical crops and physical starvation. If the modern church continues in her hypocrisy, worldliness, and apostasy, there will be spiritual famine and God will not hear our prayers (Isa. 1.11-17; 2 Chr. 7.14) or heal our churches.