Jude 17-19
Some times, wait let me start over… Most times in my life I’m the one in a crowd that’s a little different than everyone else. I’ve never been one that falls in line and blends in. It’s just my personality and I hope you actually love that about me because I love that about myself. I have embraced it. It’s always been comforting to me to know that God actually expects all of us to be different from everyone else. God’s people are to be different and not conform to the world around us. From the beginning, God wanted His people to separate themselves from the world so that His people would not taint themselves with worldly pleasures and sin. Another reason for us being different is of an evangelistic spin; perhaps the world would take notice and want to be different, too.
So far in the letter from Jude we have seen that He as encouraged and pleaded with his readers to “contend earnestly for the faith for which was once for all delivered to the saints” (3). Jude has given a vivid description of ungodly men who have crept in unnoticed teaching false doctrines, even denying Jesus as Lord and Master (4). Now, Jude exhorts his readers to be different. Two times he uses the phrase, “But you, beloved”. The word “beloved” is used as a term of endearment. Jude feels close to his readers and holds them near to his heart. Let’s look at the first time this phrase is used and see what we learn.
Verses 17-19 reads, “But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.” We are to be different. We are to remember what was spoken by the Lord and by the apostles. These words from the Lord and the apostles would remind us of how to handle the current situation we are in now. They warned us. They told us it would be this way. They said there would be those that mock in the last age. Peter told us that there would be “scoffers that come in the last days walking according to their own lusts” (2 Peter 3:3). They warned us there would be those that “follow after their own ungodly lusts” (18). Paul warned Timothy there would be a time when they will not endure sound doctrine… they would turn “away from the truth and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). They warned us that there would be those who cause division are are worldly and empty of the Spirit. Don’t be in such shock that we experience this today. They warned us and now it is here. Let’s remember what they wrote and the warning they give. Of course, we are going to have to be diligent in our study of what they wrote in the Scriptures if we are reminded. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15).
~ Alex