v. 7b – serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Devotional:

0573 Jude book 39.pdf

Sheesh. Another devo on fire and destruction? Are you thinking, “It’s getting kind of heavy, my friend”? I know, just hang in there for a minute. Jude is still talking about what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah here and the example we see through their disobedience and God’s actions against them. Multiple times Jude and Jesus (Luke 16:19-31, Matthew 25:41) both reference this idea of “eternal fire.” It is, in my opinion, also known as the outer darkness, Gehenna, hades, and Sheol. One of the most fundamental teachings of Scripture which must be believed and not forgotten is there is a place where people who have not believed in Jesus will live in torment apart from God forever and this is the just and deserved outcome for everyone. The reality of hell is daunting, heart-breaking, and very sobering. But because we believe in the authority and authenticity of scripture which teaches us about hell, we must discuss how this information is supposed to change us.

One way it changes us is that it should rid us of spiritual complacency. Francis Chan, in his book Erasing Hell, says it like this, “Nothing outside of God and His truth should be sacred
to us. And so it is with hell. If hell is some primitive myth left over from conservative tradition, then let’s set it on that dusty shelf next to other traditional beliefs that have no basis in Scripture. But if it is true, if the Bible does teach that there is a literal hell awaiting those who don’t believe in Jesus, then this reality must change us. It should certainly purge our souls of all complacency.” 6 No one who has the love of God in their heart can think about the horrors of an eternity separated from God and not be moved to compassion for all to come to repentance.

Another impact this fundamental truth should have on us is gratitude. It is solely because of Jesus that we will never experience life apart from God. In fact, the Apostle Paul tells us there is nothing that can separate us from God’s love that is ours in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:39). Nothing means nothing. It always has and always will, so when Paul says that nothing can separate us from the love of God he means there is absolutely nothing that can stop God’s love from being lavished on us, His kids, through Christ Jesus.

The opposite of gratitude is entitlement and they can’t occupy the same place at the same time so when we get a peek into the riches of God’s love toward us the only right response is to be postured in humility. His display of humility toward us perpetuates our display of humility toward Him. Paul writes “God demonstrates,” which is to say God puts on display or God makes an example of, “His love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). An example was made of Jesus on the cross so we would be examples of his grace.

We take comfort today that we who are wretched and deserving to be made an example of by punishment of eternal fire have received the free and unconditional gift of God’s mercy and are now on display as trophies of His grace for the world to see. May our hearts be filled with gratitude and our lips with praise in response to what Jesus Christ has accomplished on our behalf!

REFLECTION:

Who, in particular, are you moved by compassion for their salvation? What does it mean to you to be a “trophy of God’s grace”?