The Hope That Sustains Us

Jude

“To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy,” v.24

The book of Jude.  25 verses, not even a page and a half in my Bible.  Yet, it speaks to me today, right now. It is a warning, a huge red flashing neon sign that declares, “BEWARE!”  Satan is constantly trying to bring us away from God. There are many examples in this book – the Israelites who turned against God time and again (v.5), angels that did not keep their positions (v.6), and Sodom and Gomorrah (v.7). He brings up people that pollute their own bodies (drugs? alcohol? cigarettes?), those that reject authority (the generation we are raising now?), and those that heap abuse on celestial beings (many forms of media?) (v.8).  Jude talks about how these people slip in among us and eat at our feasts; but because they honor themselves as the lord of their lives and not God as Lord, they will be condemned.

But again, like so many chapters/books I have read, there is defeat warned about but a HOPE that sustains us.  In verses 20-21 Jude encourages us to keep building our faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keeping ourselves in God’s love as we wait for eternal life. And in verses 22-23 he challenges us to be merciful to those who doubt and rescue those destined for the fire. Because, Christ will keep us from stumbling and present us before God  without fault and with great joy! (v.24)