In Jude Chapter 1, the writer tells of those who refute the message of our Lord. In verse 16 he says they are grumblers and complainers, and fault finders. They boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. In other words, they are snakes in the grass just waiting to strike from a hidden position. I have been around people like this all my life. They take advantage of behind your back criticism of you and then promote themselves with others and flatter themselves as much as they can. Jude called such people out and warned about following them at all because they were evil in every form and condition. God has given me the red flag option in my thinking and allowed me to sniff those people out easily. They are not always seen by others though and the reason for that is the condition called "apathy." Apathy causes a person to quit weighing truth and truthful people and the end result is being "sucked in" to the snare of such people. We as believers need to be awake and in tune to what is happening around us and not get lured into the trap of such people. Scripture says that the rise of such people is an indication of the Lord's return and I can see that is very true.
On the other hand, In Jude Chapter 2 Jude says in verse 19 "these are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the spirit." He is calling us to have A Warrior's Heart. That kind of heart continues to stand steadfast in the truth of God no matter the circumstances and stand against such people who would divide us. Division comes in church fellowships, friendships, marriages, and more. You must flee those people much like Joseph fled Potiphar's wife when she tried to seduce him. Scripture says that Potiphar bought Joseph from the Ishmaelites and that he found favor in Potiphar's eyes, but he was still a slave to Potiphar, even though he was in charge of his household and everything he owned. Potiphar's wife was very attracted to Joseph and said "Come to bed with me" but Joseph refused to go to bed with her or to even be around her. Joseph did the wise thing and fled and Potiphar's wife continued to pursue to the point of taking his cloak and trying to make him go to bed with her, but he left his cloak with her and left. Once again, Joseph did the right thing and was accused by her of doing the wrong thing and then was imprisoned. So Jude's words in chapter one ring very true as a warning to those who would be fooled into doing the wrong thing by seemingly righteous people who inside are ravenous wolves.
It's time to quit assuming the best about certain people who may take us down the wrong road and stand for truth and righteousness and call it what is. Wrong.... Men do not need to entertain those who would draw them away from the ways of God and women do not need to entertain those who are trying to woo them into a place of compromise. We must not only pursue righteousness, but stand as warriors fighting for righteousness that can only be given by God. Men are drawn away by their eyes and that has been our emphasis over the past few years. The thing that draws women into inappropriate relationships, even in the church, is emotional attachments of the heart. These are many times just the result of kindness and extra attention. A kind word from a man can draw a woman into an emotional attachment that will go much further than she realized it could go and ruins her life. Men and women of God alike need to be on guard for these "snake in the grass" people who seem to be representing the Lord, but inwardly are serving the evil one.
The only way to keep awake and keep your life in line with God's Word is to know the chance for the problem, accept that the enemy is trying to get you, and then respond with wisdom and commitment. Satan is the "author of confusion" and it is his desire to divide us. Divide us as church people, divide us as co workers, divide us as spouses, and the division is his victory. Jude uses the example of Sodom and Gomorrah as an example of how bad things can get, but we can never think it is only about sexual immorality. It is about the core of the person and what can come out of a disobedient people. In scripture disobedient people are usually prideful people who never want to be found wrong when they are really wrong at the core of everything they do because of their pride. Proverbs 16:18 says "pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." The person that exhibits those characteristics will probably read the warning of Jude and say, "that doesn't apply to me" and that person is in real trouble because they have positioned themselves just outside the realm of God's conviction in their life. Which means, God convicts but they have on ear protection so they don't have to hear it. Pride = FALL. Micah 6:8 says "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
I know some people who will never bow their will to listen to brothers or sisters in Christ who give them advice and it is because they will not bow their will to listen to God. You can't tell them anything because they think they are right in everything they say and do. They will even at times act like they are not that way intentionally to make themselves feel ok, but there is a huge problem in their life.
It's time for real warriors to take a stand for the truth and to be on guard. We need to be the ones who call this what it is and see those evil people for who they are and flee their presence and run into the presence of God. If we as believers cannot bow our pride to do that then we are sorely confused and lost. Take on the warrior's heart and stand strong for truth and allow God to mold you into the warrior He can use for His Glory. First, flee the bad influences in your life and adhere to the good influences found in God's Word. Then you will show you have A Warrior's Heart.
The Pilgrimage continues...
David Warren
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