THE FIRSTFRUITS

THE FIRSTFRUITS

Shortly after Passover had been observed, the people of Israel also observed another festival called "The Firstfruits", which was, to them, somewhat burdensome. It would not have been so bad, perhaps, if they could have understood what they were doing, and why they were doing it. It was required of them for 1500 years, and all the while, they blindly followed the rules for the day without knowing what the ceremonies stood for. Pious Israelites are still faithfully performing the rites in Spiritual darkness.

Many Christians today understand a few portions of what the ceremonies were pointing to. The more we understand, the more precious and meaningful they become to us in our Christian life. That is not to say that we should observe the ceremonies the same as our forefathers did. Rather, we can recognize and appre-ciate what the Lord is doing in the world today.

We can see the principle of the Firstfruits in much of nature itself. When the fruit trees are in bloom, there is always what we call the King Bloom in each cluster of blooms. The same is true of most varieties of berries.

THE "KING BLOOM" WILL PRODUCE THE BEST FRUIT, AND WILL BE THE FIRST TO RIPEN.

God made them that way. It is one of His Principles.

There are three "firsts" in the economy of God. They are: the FIRSTBORN, the FIRSTFRUITS, and the FIRSTRIPE, OR THE FIRST TO MATURE.

Most everyone knows about the Lord slaying the firstborns of Egypt on the night of the first Passover. But not everyone knows that the Lord claimed all the firstborns of Israel for His Own on that fateful night. From that night on, every firstborn had to be redeemed with money, or with a substitute being. I can't say that I understand it, but I know it had to be done.

When time came for the priesthood to be selected, God substituted the Levites for the Firstborns, man for man. Any Firstborns who could not be replaced by a Levite had to be redeemed with a certain amount of money. There were 273 too many Firstborns.

The Bible tells us that Jesus was the "Firstfruits of them that slept", the "Firstborn from the dead."

COL 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence.

1CO 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept.

The Bible also tells us that certain Christians are to be called a "kind of firstfruits".

JAM 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Now, not ALL Christians will attain to the designation of "Firstfruits." WE CAN NOT ALL BE FIRST.

I can not tell you what law in Nature chooses the King Blooms of fruits and berries, and causes them to pollenate and ripen before the others.

But there are certain rules which govern the Lord in His CHOOS-ING those who will be among those whom He calls the "Firstfruits of His creatures."

MAL 3:16 ¶ Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard [it], and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
MAL 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

Notice the qualifications. FEARED THE LORD, and THOUGHT (reckoned, determined their course) UPON HIS NAME.

ISA 66:21 And I will also take of them for priests [and] for Levites, saith the LORD.