Remember the Bad Times

Sometimes, we  forget the basics. I heard a story about  a police squad who received hundreds of hours of weapons training. The instructor asked the officers to pick up the empty casings and put them in their pocket when they finished their clips instead of waiting to the end of the day, to keep things tidy. The officers became crack shots and extremely proficient. One day the officers were called to scene of a crazed gunman and several officers were shot dead. After the shootout,  investigators found the officers pockets full of empty casings. In the fight, they resorted to instinct, and because they didn’t practice the basics, the defaulted to what they had practiced. During the fight, they were actually bending over and picking up empty casings and putting them in their pockets. It’s not practice that makes perfect, but perfect practice makes perfect. We need reminded of the simple things, things we know, because we can forget to apply the principles when we need them. In Jude 5-8, we are called to remember others failures so we won’t make the same mistake.

Remember Israel’s lack of faith and rebellion against God. Remember the angels in Genesis 6 who left their assigned state and went where they were forbidden. Remember Sodom and Gomorrah and their rebellion against the natural order. The enemies Jude warned about have these same characteristics. Jude said these “dreamers” are coming for you who claimed God spoke to them in dreams, saying they had a “word from God”, but teaching their own wicked ways. They defiled the flesh and despised dominion, or hated authority.  These wicked men had an attitude of rebellion against authority and law.  It’s ungodly to be against lawful authority, (e.g., the church, her officers, police, parents, and employers). Like Israel in the wilderness, the fallen angels, and Sodom and Gomorrah, these false teachers despised the natural order and the law of God. By teaching God’s grace as a license to sin, they lead men against God’s ways, which turns to a rebellion against the pastor, and any position of authority or church government. They spoke evil of those in charge to undermine the authority of God’s Word.

Remember Michael, the chief angel, contended with Satan about Moses body. Why? I’m not sure and the Bible doesn’t say. Just because we don’t know for certain why, doesn’t mean we can’t learn the principle Jude is talking about. Michael was not afraid of Satan, though he dared not bring a railing accusation, but said, “the Lord judge thee” because It wasn’t Michael’s  place.

These false teachers, “speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.” They speak evil of God’s truth, which they don’t know, and promote what they are familiar with, their depraved nature. Freedom from law doesn’t bring man up, but makes him act like an animal. Sin, in every way, destroys human dignity.