2002-01-01
Good Morning Faithful Ones,
When the Lord led me to spend extra time with the passage I promised yesterday to cover today, He told me I had bitten off too much to include in one message. So, that is why today’s passage is JUDE 12-13, which comes with the promise that I will discuss JUDE 14-16 tomorrow. In JUDE 12-13, this half-brother of Jesus was led to describe the character and destiny of apostate people. “With their shameless carousing they are like dirty spots in your fellowship meals. They take care only of themselves. They are like clouds carried along by the wind, but bringing no rain. They are like trees that bear no fruit, even in autumn, trees that have been pulled up by the roots and are completely dead. They are like wild waves of the sea, with their shameful deeds showing up like foam. They are like wandering stars, for whom God has reserved a place forever in the deepest darkness.”
As a devotee of quality writing, I have to appreciate Jude’s use of five similes from nature to depict the character and destiny of the apostate people, i.e. those who have heard the truth and rejected it, in (12-13). The first one is “ like dirty spots in your fellowship meals.” These meals in the early church were known as “love feasts,” and were shared in connection with taking the sacraments. Because of the intimacy with the Lord that is a part of these meals, there is a kind of defilement that goes along with taking them with people who neither fear the Lord nor men. There is a lack of reverence and respect that is inherent in them. Judas Iscariot was just such a man. He had heard the Gospel and surely rejected it. Can you imagine how Christ felt when in MT 26: 20-25 He spoke of the disciple who would betray Him [see also MK 14:17-20, LK 22: 21-23, and 1 COR 11: 23-32]? “When it was evening, Jesus and the twelve disciples sat down to eat. During the meal Jesus said, ‘I tell you, one of you will betray Me.’ The disciples were very upset and bean to ask Him, one after the other, ‘Surely, Lord, you do not mean me?’ Jesus answered, ‘One who dips his bread in the dish with Me will betray Me. The Son of Man will die as the Scriptures say He will, but how terrible for that man who will betray the Son of Man! It would have been better for that man if he had never been born! Judas, the traitor, spoke up. “Surely, Teacher, you do not mean me?’ he asked. Jesus answer, ‘So you say.’ “ We learn in MT 27: 3-10, which I hope you will read, the rest of Judas’ story. Apostates care only for themselves rather than all God’s people. They lure others, enticing them to sin with their efforts to contaminate the faith.
The second simile from nature from JUDE 12 is “like clouds carried by the wind that bring no rain.” In the physical sense of this description, we’ve had clouds like this over Woodbury, forcing us to water our lawns with hoses to keep them green. In the spiritual sense, apostate people fool themselves and sometimes fool us. They appear to be so faithful, just as Judas Iscariot did. But, when push comes to shove, they bear no fruit. Such a man was Korah, the Levite Jewish priest whose story of burning unholy fire enticed two other priests, Dathan and Abiram, to lead 14, 700 people to their deaths [NU 16: 30 & 49] at God’s righteous hand. These three men were God’s own priesthood servants and thus justifiably held to a higher standard by Him. What a disappointment to Him they were!
The third simile used in JUDE 12 is the description of the apostate as “like late Autumn trees stripped of leaves and fruit…completely dead.” What is meant by “completely dead” is not just a tree that has lost its leaves in Fall, but one that is dead at its very roots and branches as well. When Paul in RO 11 speaks of the salvation of the Gentiles, he uses the metaphor of an olive tree to represent the family of faith. RO 11: 19-20, “But you will say, ‘Yes, but the branches were broken off to make room for me.’ That is true. They were broken off because they die not believe, while you remain in place because you do believe. But do not be proud of it; instead, be afraid [reverent and alert to faith].” Those branches broken off to make room for the newly saved Gentiles were apostate Jews. These were the same self-righteous hypocrites that Paul spoke of in RO 2.
JUDE 13 offers the last two similes describing apostate people. The fourth one is: “They are like wild waves of the sea, with their shameful deeds showing up like foam.” The take pride in what they should be ashamed of, for example, some of the TV televangelists who were exposed in the 1980’s for the fraudulent scam artists that they were. Jimmy Swaggert is an example that comes to mind. After confessing publicly of his sexual immorality, he had so much pride that he went on with his ministry collecting donations from his forgiving followers. His tears appeared so real, until it came to light that he was continuing the behavior that caused his problems in the first place. When all is said and done, nothing of value is left behind by these people. It has been prophesied that the antichrist will come on the scene, full of boasting gusto, professing himself to be a man of faith in the beginning to deceive Israel and the world [see DN 7: 8 & 11: 36-39]. Because people will believe him, I have reason to believe that he will have to look the part of a faithful person in the beginning and will have been exposed to the word of God.
The fifth and last simile is Jude’s description of apostates as “ like wandering stars, for whom God has reserved a place forever in the deepest darkness.” A wandering star doesn’t assume a normal orbit. Therefore, it can’t be of any use as an aid to navigation. Lucifer was originally God’s favored angel in charge of worship in heaven. His is quite obviously a deceptive and charismatic personality, or he wouldn’t have been able to convince one-third of the host of heaven to believe his lies, and thus seal their eventual condemnation and destruction [IS 14: 11-15 & REV 12: 7-9]. Following Lucifer, who eventually is cast out of heaven to be called Satan, these apostate angels will only find out when it is too late that they have chosen the wrong leader. That is true of all people, as well as these evil angels, who choose to follow Satan. Wandering stars blaze brightly for time, and then, they fizzle out into darkness like fireworks. That is the fate the antichrist will choose for himself. DN 9: 27, “That ruler will have a firm agreement with many people for seven years, and when half this time is past, he will put an end to sacrifices and offering. The Abomination of Desolation will be placed on the highest point of the Temple and will remain there until the one who put it there meet the end which God has prepared for him [second death].”
PRAYER: O Lord, You inspired Jude to use examples of nature to help us to understand the profile of an apostate person. That captures our attention and allows You to deliver a message to us upon which our lives can one day depend. What incredible love that You have for us to provide us with the discernment we need to fend off the lure of the adversary and those who follow him! The deceiver is often subtle, and his followers learn how to emulate him. While they are clever and sly, they are not more powerful than You. That is why we must remain in Your word and in prayerful communication with You, so we will always recognize them for who they are and not be pulled into their lies. This is what is meant by being equipped to do spiritual warfare and being capable, thanks to You, in being victorious in it. We humbly offer You our heartfelt adoration, worship, thanks, praise, glory, honor, trust, obedience, and faithful dedication. In Christ’s name, amen.
Tomorrow, we will look at a remarkable prophecy Jude makes and at the judgment of the condemned, which is the destiny of the apostate from JUDE 14-16. There are times when we feel like throwing up our hands in exasperation when we are confronted with the followers of the devil in our lives. However, we can rest assured that when we hold fast to our faith, we carry with us the means to overcome the enticements to sin, the unrighteous behavior of the ungodly, and the challenges to our faith that the adversary sends. Be encouraged by the God Who loves each of us with all His heart. Peter and I send you our love too.
Grace Be with You Always,
Lynn