Wet Floor, Do Not Fall

Wet Floor, Do not Fall (Jude 24)

A wet floor is often difficult to detect, and the slippery surface can cause unexpected tumbles and falls. You might have seen the yellow signs that warn people to be careful when they are around an area like rest room, when the cleaning crews are working. Due to familiarity, it is easy to ignore these signs. In Bible, we read about warning signs of the end times. Today we are focusing on how Christians should endure the challenges of the end times.

Redwood trees in California stand for long time. It can’t be destroyed by lightning, storms had come and gone, but the tree stood. But one day, the residents found a tree, which was 400 years old on the ground. What destroyed the redwood? Insects and termites devoured it from within. It had stood for four centuries against the elements from without but collapsed because of an attack within. Jude warns that the same can happen to church of Christ. The book of Jude was written in A.D 60. The next book revelation was written after 25 years (AD 95). Who is Jude? It is not the disciple who committed suicide (Verse-1, 17). Many scholars consider him to be the brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55, 1 Corinthians 9:5). Imagine that the bible had only 65 chapters. There is no revelation to confirm the coming of Jesus and the deeds to follow.

Why did Jude write this gospel?

Verse-3: Jude wanted to write about the salvation we all share. We get pushed, tempted by living in this world. We need to resist the urges of this world, but we should be even more careful that we don’t fall for these false teachings. Each Christian should feel a responsibility to defend the truth. Stand against false teachers when you recognize them. Trust God to give you the strength and awareness to represent him in the world. Does this sound familiar? Especially in US, Christians are up in arms about things like homosexuality, abortion. Often what is discouraging is when the leaders fail. I believe this is synonymous of the end times. When we argue and reason about curing the symptoms of the disease, rather than the disease itself (sin), the possibility for false teachings start, a movement for a philosophy starts to take root. There are many ways for a robber to get into your home right. Watch out the floor is wet.

Where are you in your relationship with God today?

You may say I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior, go to church and do all the spiritual things that Mr. Me thinks is good. But our God is a God who judged his own people Israel. The Lord saved Israel out of Egypt but later destroyed all of them who do not believe in him. Remember the angels, who did not keep their place of power, they were bound with everlasting chains to be judged on the great day. Remember Sodom and Gomorrah. (Verse 5-7)

Some people claim to love God but do not obey him. Be careful that disobedience does not create a wedge between you and God. According to Gallup surveys, confirmed by other polls taken over 15 years, 33% of all Americans over 18 indicate they are born-again Christians. Compare this to spending for gospel work. It means that the greatest revival in history so far has been impotent to change society. It is revival without transformation. It is a revival that left the country floundering in spiritual ignorance. It’s a change in belief without a corresponding change in behavior. The American gospel has evolved into a gospel of addition without subtraction. It is the belief that we can add Christ to our lives but not subtract sin. It is a change in belief without change in behavior. It is spiritual experience without any cultural impact. It is a revival without reformation, without repentance.

Let’s read what untransformed people could do:

They are guided by dreams and make themselves filthy with sin - Verse-8

They reject God’s authority and speak against angels – Verse-8

They speak against things that they do not understand - Verse-10

For money they have given themselves to doing the wrong that Balaam did Verse-11

They fought against God and will be surely destroyed Verse-11

They eat with you and have no fear, caring only for themselves – Verse-12

They are clouds without rain, which the wind blows around – Verse-12

They are like the autumn (fall in US) trees that are pulled out of ground without fruit. – Verse-12

They are like wild waves of the sea, tossing up their own shameful actions like foam – Verse-13

They are like stars that wander in the sky – Verse-13

These people complain and blame others, doing the evil things they want to do – Verse-16