“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” (Jude 1:20-21 AV)
Jude utters these words to the end-time saints. Those who are overwhelmed by false teachers and prophets. Those who are discouraged by apathy and carnality among God’s people. Those who have seen better days. Those who have witnessed a moving of the Holy Spirit and have witnessed the holiness which is the result. This is the audience of this letter. He encourages them not to give up the faith. He instructs them to stay in the love of God and encourage one another as the day of the LORD’s appearing draws near. Because he uses the phrase “building up yourselves”, he suggests that survival isn’t the only goal here. Rather, growth is. Even in discouraging times, it is possible to increase as a believer. There are three actions they must take. First, prayer is of the utmost importance. Prayer goes a long way in overcoming challenges to our faith. Second, they must always remember that God loves them and, because He does, they are to live in that love by returning that love upon God. Third, to remain encouraged means we look for the mercy of God until eternal life is our dwelling place. That mercy is forgiveness of sin. But that mercy is also seeing the grace of God in the midst of trials and troubles. Jude has a heart for those who must go through the deep waters prior to eternal graduation. In some way, regardless of the current dispensational time-line, this is all of us.
I watched a comedian last night who had a bit on being unintelligent and depressed as a symptom of addiction to news. I think he might be on to something. Never before has mankind been so discontented. Never before has there been a general loss of hope. This is not unique to the lost world. It is a disease that has encroached the body of Christ. More and more, we see discouragement, depression, and even suicide. The numbers are staggering. At one time, I served in a church whose county had the highest suicide rate per capita of any in the nation and also the highest prescription use of antidepressants. This was a county in the heart of the Bible belt. This was a county where the vast majority of citizens claimed a personal relationship with God. How is that possible? How can people who know the LORD and who know their Bibles walk in discouragement? Jude thinks it is possible. He thinks it's even probable. The closer we get to the LORD’s return, things will get better. Not worse. Many thought that our last national election would turn our nation around. What we found out is that we are too far gone for one person to completely erase a century of secularism and liberalism. It will take more than that. It will take the return of Christ. So, the elation many felt a bit over a year ago has turned from cautious optimism to unfortunate reality. The forces of darkness march on. Our current situation is a mere hiccup. Can we be encouraged?
Jude certainly thinks so. He gives us the formula for surviving and thriving amid a world that is ever-increasingly rebelling against the LORD. He tells us to encourage one another by building each other up in the faith. He then tells us to pray. A lot. Thirdly, we are not to forget that God loves us and because He does, we must live to please Him in that love. Lastly, never stop looking heavenward! Jesus is coming back. Because no man knows the day nor the hour, His return is always imminent! Those of the mindset that the coming of the LORD is centuries away are fools. His return is just as likely today as it is one hundred years from now. Because not even the Son knows the day or hour, but only the Father, it could be now! So, we can look at the heavens, from whence cometh our help. He is coming back. Don’t just survive – thrive!
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