Dear Church Family,
Jude has written words in verses 3-16 that when looked at in isolation appear to be harsh, but in reality are bathed in love. If you yell at a child running around his yard people might think you are cruel. When they realize that child was scurrying to get his ball in the busy street, their thoughts of you turn from hatred to hero. Jude must be seen as a heroic figure as he contends for the faith once delivered. He has warned in v16 of those who “are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires and boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.”
Jude’s tone changes some in v17 as he quotes Jesus to remind us, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” Therefore, it should not surprise when we see the damage of sin all around us. At times it seems people are striving to fulfill the words of Romans 1:18-32 that show how they have “exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped created things rather than the Creator…they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”
These false teachers follow the example of the first scoffer in world history. Satan fell from his angelic position as he sought to make himself “like the Most High.” (See Isaiah 14:12-16 to learn more about Satan’s rebellion.) Then in the Garden of Eden he mocked the authority of God with his common way of deceit by asking “Did God really say?” The evil one continues his rebellious work doing using people who “follow mere natural (sinful) instincts and do not have the Spirit” to divide God’s people. Without the Holy Spirit no one can understand the Bible nor can they please God (Rom. 8:8). We must watch out that our own “evil desires” (v16) do not cause division in Christ’s church. All of us have desires. The basic question is whether they are evil or God-honoring.
The church during the time of Jude did not have to deal with social media, the internet, TV or radio. Just about all teaching and sharing of opinions came face-to-face. Various media bombard us with all sorts of information. Some of what we see, hear and read is beneficial. Much of it is not. We must be ever vigilant to guard our hearts and minds. We need to yell out words of warning to ourselves as we get our daily dose of information. We should seek first the truth of God’s Word and have it serve as a filter for all that enters our minds. Is what we see, read and hear something that our Lord would teach us? If not, then it most likely should not be consumed.
With great hope in His grace,
Pastor Gillikin