“These people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion. These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame…
“It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.’ These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.
“But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, ‘In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.’ It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Jude 10-13,14b-25
Jude’s warning against the infiltration of wickedness was stark and sobering. His descriptions spread wide the effect of ungodly thinking and practice, touching on many results of inclining to the culture or remaining devoid of the Spirit. He called the church universal to beware, and to stay strong in the blessed grace and ability of Christ to keep them from stumbling.
When societal tumult presses, hard consequences threaten, or ungodly shepherds rule, how strong will we stand? Where have we known instinctively what is right, yet abandoned it for gain or rebellion? Under what pressure do we give in to harshness, discontent, grumbling, boasting?
What are we doing to arm ourselves against ungodliness, and to hone biblical discernment? Do we tune in only to imperfect thought leaders who may sway like wind or say what we want to hear, or anchor ourselves in the true truth of God’s word directly? How seriously do we take the Bible’s warnings? When we entrust ourselves to our able, majestic Savior in the trials of these troublesome days, He is faithful to keep us from falling. (Psalm 18:33; 37:23-24; Colossians 3:1-10; 2 Timothy 4:3)
Lord, keep me alert to heed warnings, sharp with vigilance, quick to recover, and steadfast to follow, for Your great joy and glory.
As the rain and snow 