The start of Spring is the gardener’s chore time. One of the hardest and most tedious jobs is the raking of all the leaves that had fallen during the Autumn and Winter. I had this chore in helping my son-in-law with his. It is a large garden with many trees, and therefore many shed leaves. Those cast-off leaves have no use, save for compost, or to be dumped, or to be burnt in a fire. 

The mechanical action of raking and dumping gave me the opportunity to dwell upon the difference between the believer and unbeliever. Without being insensitive, it is biblical to say that unbelievers are described as chaff that the wind blows away. Chaff has the purpose of being used in the production of corn, but when it has fulfilled its design and the corn is ripe, it is winnowed away, and is only fit for burning. 

So it is that the reprobate serves the elect, but when the purpose is fulfilled, then solemnly and certainly they shall be consigned to everlasting burnings. Let us make certain that we are not branches that are fruitless, and so only fit for the fire.