These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm — shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted — twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. — Jude 12-13
One of the purposes of the Judgment, I believe, is to give us some understanding of the wrath of God. Part of God’s salvation is His wrath. In the end, when God’s salvation is made complete, He separates us from His enemies (human and demonic), and executes vengeance on His foes.
I used to believe that false teachers were sincere people who were mistaken in their theology. Yes, some people are mistaken in their beliefs. But I think this passages is talking about a different group. These false teachers are those who teach lies about God by how they treat the most defenseless among us. In public they are pious. In private, they brand the souls of the vulnerable with deceit and cruelty. They etch lies into the deeply buried places in a person’s heart, far away from the place that could be touched by an open discussion of doctrine.
The gift of eternal life is the gift of knowing God. We cannot know and embrace God without knowing that He is angry, that His anger is fully justified, and His retribution will be precisely measured.
We share God’s heart. We don’t want any to perish. We plead with our neighbors, no matter how evil they may be, to open their hearts to the Lord. We hurt for what is precious and was intended for eternal life.
But we also rejoice that God will not let evil continue forever. He will put an end to it; His justice will be displayed.
Be encouraged!
Dwight
What happens when you partner with Dwight Clough Ministries?
Victims of violent crimes and survivors of abuse are finding peace,
wholeness, the power to forgive and the strength to set boundaries.
Those ensnared by addictions are finding freedom. Marriages are being
restored. Families are strengthened. Christian brothers and sisters in
restricted lands who face persecution are finding strength and
encouragement. Young believers are learning how to walk with the Lord,
and people are coming into the faith for the first time. None of this
happens as a result of one person’s efforts, but rather this is God’s
work as He blesses the sacrifice of many people including yourself. We
partner with you, with other ministries, and, most significantly, with
the Lord. That’s how the supernatural happens.
Discoveries Devotional – Inspiration in Your Inbox is provided daily by
Dwight Clough Ministries, Inc.
1223 West Main Street #228
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 USA
Dwight Clough Ministries is supported by your donations.
Visit DwightClough.com for more information.