Remember the Judgment on Israel (5)
Jude, having established the urgent need to earnestly contend for the faith, uses the remainder of his letter to instruct on how we should contend.
In verses 5-7 Jude encourages his readers to consider examples from history and see the end result of deviating from God’s purposes for His creation. When we consider the end of those who have rebelled, it will stir us to remain faithful and encourage others to do the same.
After Dan Edwards received his ordination to serve as a missionary, he received a letter from the veteran mission, Robert Murray McCheyne:
“In great measure, according to the purity and perfections of the instrument, will be the success. It is not great talents God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God”.
Robert Murray McCheynne
McCheynne had understood the necessity for purity, to not deviate from God’s plan in any way.
This section of Jude emphasizes the need for purity in our doctrine, devotion, and practice.
Starting close to home Jude encourages his readers to remember the judgment on their forefathers.
A Chosen People to Receive the Oracles of God
God had chosen a man, Abraham, and from that man a family, Israel. God incubated Israel in Egypt while it grew from a somewhat large family into a small nation.
God chose another man, Moses, to lead Israel from Egypt. Through a series of 10 plagues, God brought the Egyptians to their knees until they agreed to release their slaves. Finally, Israel walks free, marches into the wilderness, and makes its way to the land of promise.
With more reason to believe than perhaps any people group before them, they boldly approach the borders of Canaan. Twelve spies go into the land and upon their return trouble rises to the surface. Remember, hardships did not create doubts, hardships revealed doubts. In Numbers 13 and 14 the whole nation, with the exception of just a few, let their doubts determine their future.
What followed was a grueling 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. During these years all who doubted died. They claimed they could not enter the promised land because it was too dangerous for their children. To protect the children, they refused to fight. Tragically, by refusing to do battle they simply delayed the war. The very battle they used as an excuse to protect their children, the children themselves would have to grow up and fight.
Christian, if you do not fight the battles now they will not go away. The battle will be lost in your generation and will remain for your children to fight in theirs.
Israel Deviated Doctrinally
Here, Israel deviates from God doctrinally. What doctrine did they abandon? All of it, essentially. They denied God was all-powerful. They denied His promises to deliver them into the land of promise. They deviated from all the truth that God had entrusted to them.
What happens when individuals and churches deviate doctrinally today? Churches die. Numbers of Christians collapse. That is not just a present or future problem, it is one that has plagued the USA for at least 125 years.
At the turn of the 1900s, there were 27 churches per 10,000 people. By the year 2000, there were 11 churches per 10,000 people. To just keep up with population growth, from the 1900s onward we would have needed 38,000 new churches. That would just be holding our ground, not actually growing. Instead, churches are closing at an increasing rate. Depending on the source we are currently seeing between 3,850 and 7,700 churches closing each year. One report says that while 4,000 close, only 1,000 are started.
We are making the same mistake as Israel. Many are deviating doctrinally. They are simply walking away from the truth they have.
One simple way you can ensure your children have a church to attend in the future is to attend and build up this church today. But we do not just want to be open to keep the lights on. We want to be open with purpose. What is our purpose?
- To worship God
- To teach truth
- To share the Gospel
- To be salt and light in a decaying and dark world
- To train leaders
- To plant churches at home and abroad.
Remember Israel, they deviated doctrinally, apostasy took root, and everyone suffered. Let’s make sure we embrace truth, keep what we have, and grow for the glory of God and the good of others!
Next, we’ll see how the angels deviated devotionally, and Sodom and Gomorrah deviated practically.
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