“Some Things Never Change!”
In these days of constant change and confusion, consistency can actually be more of a comfort than an irritation! Especially when we use it to refer to our Ever-Present, Unchanging God!
The writer of the book of Hebrews reminds us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever.” (Heb. 13:8) Thank you Lord!
False teachers inside the church must pay attention. For also in this day of political correctness, many preach a God who only loves and no longer judges. For example they may teach that all judgement and wrath ended when Jesus went to the cross.
God’s Word teaches the opposite. God’s righteous judgement continues upon those who lead others astray. Jude illustrates this first with three Old Testament examples of God’s condemnation and prior judgement. The Godcha App helps me find the Cross References so I could read about each of these examples.
1. Unbelieving Israelites in the wilderness (v. 5)
Time and time again, the Israelites complained against God, refused to trust Him and would turn to anything else BUT God.
- Exodus 12: 37-41, 51
- Numbers 13:1-3, 21-33; 14:1-35
- Deuteronomy 4:34
- Acts 7:36-43
- 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
2. Angels who didn’t “stay in their lane” (v. 6)
The angels that joined with man in dark pursuits of wickedness and God did not spare them from hell.
- Genesis 6:4-17
- 2 Peter 2:4-5
3. Immoral Sodom and Gomorrah (v. 7)
The pursuits of “strange flesh” in Sodom and Gomorrah, not unlike the immorality of today, “reduced them to ashes.”
- Genesis 13:10-13; 18:20-33; 19:1-29
- Exodus 16:49-50
- 2 Peter 2:6-11
Then I dove into the Deeper Discovery questions #5 and #6 to look further at what God wants to show me in these examples.
#5. How are the ungodly today like the Israelites? What was their end? Do I believe in the Son and trust the LORD like Moses, Aaron, Joshua and Caleb? Or am I more like the Israelites, professing to believe but refusing to obey the LORD?
#6. What did it mean that the angels did not keep their own domain? What was their end? What is the connection between the angels and Sodom and Gomorrah? Do I know anyone like these angels? Or, am I like these angels – having left the domain of faith, God’s Truth? Indulged in sexual immorality?
I know my own sin and lack of belief in God’s sovereign control of a world that seems so out of control must grieve Him. I must confess this before God and ask for His forgiveness, turning from my doubts and mis-trust.
But I also know that those teaching anything but the TRUTH to His church, His bride, is despicable to Him as well and will bring judgement. Jesus’ own words about this can be found in Matthew 18 when he referenced the conversion, belief and humility of a child:
“Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; BUT whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
These are harsh, Old Testament-type words from Jesus to anyone who leads believers astray with false teaching. But what Jesus and Jude’s words show me is how serious God is about TRUTH and about His church learning TRUTH and living according to His TRUTH – TRUTH which never changes!