Waterless clouds, late autumn trees.

Wed 29Apr09:    Jude 1 - 25 NKJV

 . . . They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; v12

When Jude asked the readers to build themselves up in their most holy faith, and to pray in the Holy Spirit, it was done with great concern over the alarming presence of some ungodly people who had "crept in unnoticed" (v4) among them.

These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.  v19

While reading the chapter this morning, it appears to me that this epistle possibly contains the most vivid and detailed descriptions about ungodly people in one single chapter, compared to any other epistle in the NT.

These ungodly people were characterized by Jude as showing the following behaviour:

• they turn the grace of our God into immorality
  
• they deny the Lord Jesus Christ
  
• they defile the flesh, reject authority and slander even angels
  
• they speak evil of what they do not know
  
• they corrupt themselves with their animal instincts
  
• they have become like Cain who killed his own brother,
  
• and like Balaam who deceived others for his own gains,
  
• and also like Korah who perished in his rebellious ways.
  
• they are grumblers, complainers, going after their own lusts;
  
• they utter boastful words, while also flattering others to gain advantage;
  

To me, the most vivid description of all is that in v12, quoted above, referring to such people as waterless clouds and late autumn trees.  They are like clouds, but they carry no rain. They are like trees, but, alas they don't bear fruit.  In fact, v12 goes on to refer to these fruitless trees as "twice dead" and uprooted.  And in the following v13, Jude calls them

Raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

The disturbing thing is that these people have crept quietly into the church, professing themselves to be church members.  No wonder, Jude began his epistle by saying that he found it necessary to exhort the Christians to contend earnestly for the faith.  In some newer versions of the Bible, this verse is translated as " . . . to defend the faith".

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I urge you to join me in devoting our lives to defending our faith.  I beseech you to learn the teachings of our Lord and the ancient writings of the New Testament, so that we may be capable of defending our faith earnestly, even to contend with false believers who teach otherwise, by promoting upright Godly Christian thinking and living in our church.

Let us build ourselves up in our most holy faith. Let us pray in the Spirit. And let us keep ourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.