God planted the people of the old covenant as a wide fruitful vineyard. He put the fence of his law around them, put the order of sacrifices as a wine press in them, built the prophets as watchtowers in the midst of the nation, and authorized the religious and secular leaders with power and responsibility.
God sent his prophets, his faithful servants, to gather for their Lord the good fruits of repentance, truth, and love. But they found nothing except self-righteousness, scandals, arrogance, and darkness in this disobedient, stubborn nation, which persecutes, beats and mocks God’s messengers and kills some of them.
How great is God’s patience! He did not destroy this nation in spite of its hardheartedness, but went on sending his godly servants once and again. It is impossible to find a human being who treats his servants with such patience and divine endurance. God is patient and merciful. His design is to gain men’s obedience through love, without resorting to violence.
From eternity, God had a unique Son whom he loved, for he was the express image of his person, and was born of the Spirit of LOVE. He made all the creation. He is the Owner of the present and the future. His glory and holiness make the angels worship to him, and the devils tremble at the mention of his name. However, the people of the old covenant did not fear him, but despised him spitefully, and the people of our generation neglect him, and throw his name aside. There is no harder language in the world than that men prepared to kill their Lord, and to destroy the Son of God their Creator. The meaning of this truth is that God, in his everlasting love to us, reached with us, hardhearted, the last point of his patience, and he prefers to sacrifice his dearest one to redeem us, hoping that we should turn to him repentantly and changed for his kindness’ sake.
Yet, people hated and disobeyed their Creator, and plotted to destroy and kill his Son entirely. They did not recognize God’s worthiness in them, and did not reach the end of their choice. Christ’s death means great failure to those of the old covenant, also to the Gentiles. It also shows the highest point of the faithful love of God.
What is your position toward God’s patience and love? Do you present the fruits of your life to your Savior with gratitude for his salvation, or are you still living for yourself, interested in your reputation, and sinning indifferently? God planted you in his vineyard in place of the nation of the old covenant, but as he condemned the Jews, so he will condemn you if you do not bear many fruits, continue in his love, and live in the purity of his truth. The Holy One expects good harvest from you. He expects first that you receive his Son with reverence and joy that he may spread his virtues in you.