He’ll Make A Fine Life

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

“And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.” (Jude 1:20-23 NKJV)

(https://www.bible.com/bible/114/jud.1.20-23.nkjv)

Note first that in verses 18-19, Jude told his readers that the mockers who were to come in the last day would, “walk according their own ungodly lusts,” and, “cause divisions.” This falls right in line with what James said in chapter 4 of his epistle, as to the source of most church divisions.

In contrast to that, Jude instructed his readers to, “build yourselves up,” which Paul referred to as edifying one another. We are to strengthen one another’s hand in the faith. How are we do do this? Jude mentions three ways; 1) praying in the Spirit, 2) living in the love of God and 3) relying on the mercy of Christ which was demonstrated in our own salvation.

How would that be expressed? For some folks, we need to have the same mercy Jesus had on us, overlooking their faults (“have compassion”), making a distinction between those simply lost and those who are stirring up trouble. That second group needs to be saved as well, but the same approach cannot be utilized.

In rescuing that group, Jude uses the imagery of pulling a burning branch from a fire, typically not a gentle operation. By hook or by crook, the one surrounded by flames has to be pulled out. No one’s worried about appearances at that point. Their garments are on fire and can’t be saved; leave them behind. The old stop, drop and roll is not graceful, but it is effective in dousing the flames.

Saving the “ungodly lusts gang” might also be analogized as saving a drowning person. It is sometimes necessary to subdue the person flailing about in the water in order to rescue them. Gentleness and explanations won’t work with them; both rescuee and rescuer might go down. They may even need to slip into unconsciousness before they can be safely rescued.

Mixing my metaphors majestically, sometimes the person in need has to dig their hole so deep they realize they can’t escape before they are willing to be rescued. That was my Pappaw. He had destroyed his law practice, nearly destroyed his marriage and wrecked his health before he submitted to being rescued. In the end, by the time he died in his 90s, he could look back on A Fine Life (the title of the book which recounts his tale); paraphrasing him, Pappaw said, “When I tried to run my own life, look at the mess I made. But when I let God run my life, look at what a fine life He made of it.”

Be ready to rescue. Gently woo the willing. Pull out kicking and screaming those who have finally come to the end of their rope and must be rescued. Don’t give up on anyone; He never gave up on you.

Related Scriptures

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6-7 NKJV)

“Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” (I Thessalonians 5:11 NKJV)

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Romans 8:26 NKJV)

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:11-14 NKJV)

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” (Hebrews 9:27-28 NKJV)

“Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?” (II Peter 3:11-12 NKJV)

“For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.” (Romans 11:13-14 NKJV)

“‘I overthrew some of you,

As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah,

And you were like a firebrand plucked from the burning;

Yet you have not returned to Me,’

Says the LORD.” (Amos 4:11 NKJV)

“And the LORD said to Satan, ‘The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?’” (Zechariah 3:2 NKJV)

“If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” (I Corinthians 3:15 NKJV)

“Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, ‘Take away the filthy garments from him.’ And to him He said, ‘See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.’

“And I said, ‘Let them put a clean turban on his head.’

“So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the LORD stood by.” (Zechariah 3:4-5 NKJV)

“‘You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.’” (Revelation 3:4 NKJV)