Jude, a Blast from the Past

Didn't it always just frustrate you when your father was correcting you and said, “This hurts me more than it hurts you”? And I would think “How is that possible? I’m getting the punishment.” It wasn't until we grew up that we got the full meaning of our dad’s saying. When you put your heart and soul into showing someone the right way to live and he/she rejects it and lives the opposite way it does hurt.

That’s how Jude in the Bible must have felt. He had to warn and reprimand people that were dear to him and that should have known better. Jude, the half-brother of Jesus Christ himself, did not even give this as his credential. He just said he was a servant of Christ. He submitted to Christ as his supreme authority. And he expected other Christians to be able to do the same. He prayed that the Christians to whom he was writing would have multiplied mercy, peace, and love. Then, verse 3, WHAM, he gets super serious.

 I used to wonder why I had to be exposed to all of his fussing to these unknown Christians until I studied it recently. It was like he was lecturing me.  I had to hang my head and wait until the preaching was over then say, “I’m sorry” and change my actions.

And what was all the fussing about? We have strayed from not only living like Christians but actually defending our faith. We let the ungodly that totally reject God’s truth into our churches, homes, and lives. And we just let them in without even putting up our Word of God shield and without even challenging what they say. Who are these “they” that Jude was talking about? They are some of our peers and by the pressure of society tell us what we are to accept, what is politically correct, and what is supposed to be morally acceptable now even when it is in opposition to the Word of God. And it’s getting harder and harder to spot them. They put some truth in with what they say so that when they actually profane scripture we don’t notice so much. Or they make us feel guilty for standing with scripture as our model. Jude said that we are letting them in and celebrating their immorality with them. It’s amazing that what was going on in the early church is still going on today. You’d think Satan would try something new but he doesn't have to when this is still working so well for him.

Now I’m not saying that “they” are all around us and we should make our own little hideaway cult. I’m saying we have to decide whether we actually believe scripture and are willing to contend for this belief in our culture. Jude brings you and me to this “line drawn in the sand” moment. He confronts and makes us decide if we are submitted to follow Christ even if it means discomfort or going against a new society norm.

                                           Keep Yourselves in the Love of God – Jude 17-25

    17But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,18that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.”19These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.20But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,21keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.22And have mercy on some, who are doubting;23save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. 24Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,25to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

 Whew, the lecture is over. I am chastised and convicted. I’m sorry for not always standing vocally for my faith. I’m sorry I have not taken the eternal lives of others more seriously.

I have been thoroughly blasted by Jude

and my Heavenly Father.

And it does hurt the name of Christ and all He died for more than it hurts me.