I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. Jude 5
Have you ever been cautioned to be careful, you might fall? During the summer, my sisters and I had weekly outings to our local swimming pool when we were growing up. There were several rules at the pool but the one I remember the most was NO RUNNING!
There is an obvious reason I remember that rule above all the other rules that were posted at the pool. You see, the water on the cement around the pool made the surface quite slippery. The struggle for me was I just could not resist a good chase. I loved to run. I got caught running multiple times and even had to sit out a few times. This did not really stop me from running. So of course one day I slipped, fell and hit my head. My mom had to leave work to come get me and take me to the doctor. Heads tend to bleed a lot so my injury definitely appeared to be worse than it was. I ended up with just 2 stitches and a horrible headache. It was much easier to remember the rule about not running after that incident.
When God instructs us to remember those who were destroyed for their unbelief it is a reminder for us of great loss that could have been avoided by earnestly contending for the faith.
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Jude 3
This is the only time we see this particular phrase in the Bible and earnestly contend means to struggle for. I do not like to struggle but our faith is worth the struggle. We cannot avoid the struggle when it comes to losing our life and finding it in Christ.
The enemy is sneaky and present so the struggle is real.
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude 4
When I think of contending for the faith I think of Hebrew 11. In particular, I think of three women mentioned in the Hebrews Hall of Faith. Looking at their lives I see women who faced fearful, uncertain circumstances, and yet they chose faith. They chose to believe God was real and He would come through for them during their time of need. They were contenders for the faith when fear and uncertainty were present in their lives.
Sarah was a contender. No one her age was giving birth to children. She was so stunned when her pregnancy was announced, she laughed. It was truly a laugh-out-loud moment. Her skeptical laughter was turned into a joyful, contagious laughter of praise (Genesis 21:6)! So much so, Abraham named the child Isaac, which means laughter.
According to Hebrews, Sarah received strength to conceive and deliver a child in her old age because she believed God was faithful. When our strength seems gone, when our flesh is weak, we are tempted to get comfortable, sit around and wait till the end! Like Sarah though, we can tap into the strength of our faithful God. We can plant seeds and produce fruit in our later years. Our struggle for the faith can encourage others to believe that God is faithful to keep His promises till the end.
Jochebed was a contender. Her name is not even mentioned in Hebrews, but her acts of faith are. She did not fear the king’s commandment. In fact she obeyed his command and placed her three-month-old baby in the Nile River! In an ark . . . an ark to protect her child as Noah had made an ark to protect his family. While everyone was casting their little boys into the Nile River out of fear of Pharaoh, by faith Jochebed constructed an ark of safety around her child. Her struggle for the faith eventually led to freedom for generations to come.
Rahab was a contender. By faith, she chose a new path for herself and her family! Talk about a new life!! It is never too late for someone to receive Christ! Our sin is never too great for God to forgive. The place we are in is not out of reach of the saving hand of God. Our life is never too far gone for God to redeem in the most amazing way.
There were many in Jericho who perished the day the walls came tumbling down, but not Rahab. Not Rahab’s family. They were rescued, they were given a fresh start in every way! Rahab’s struggle for the faith was greatly rewarded.
Bob Proctor, motivational speaker and author, said, “Faith and fear both demand you believe in something you cannot see. You choose!” And it is just that, contending for the faith is a matter of choice.
Contenders struggle in the slippery places of unbelief and skepticism like everyone else. Yet contenders consider the source of unbelief. We can consider the consequences of unbelief and remember that God has the power to keep us from falling. In our struggle we can remember to choose faith and lose our unbelief.
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 24-25
Theme Verse:
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.” Mark 8:35
“Lose” from the Greek word “Apollymi” means “to destroy fully.” It is translated "destroyed ” in Jude 5, our verse for today.
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