STEADFAST
Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Jude warns us to keep the faith, to be concerned with the faith of others, and to give all glory to God in Jesus Christ, who keeps us from falling!
It’s almost here. It’s coming soon. The signs are all around us, all we have to do is look out there and see. You know what I mean? Did you think I was talking about Christmas? Well that’s coming soon too. But here in the church we are focused on another day that is coming soon – and it goes by many names: the day of the Lord’s second coming – judgment day – the last day –the end of days.
We know it’s coming soon because the signs are all around us. We have been warned. We’ve been put on notice. Even though we don’t know and will never know the exact time or day or hour, as Jesus says, the signs are still there for us to see. We could almost keep a checklist based off of last week’s Gospel lesson from Mark 13:1-13: Wars – check. Rumors of Wars – check. Famine – check. Disaster – check. Conflict even in families – check. Increasing wickedness – check. False teachings abound – check.
So what do we do about it? How do we react? As Christians? As the Church?
Many give in. The constant battle with society and their own sinful nature are too much and they go with the flow. It certainly seems easier to go ahead and do whatever you like without any care that it is causing you harm; your very salvation. They adopt popular religion which attempts to bring society and religion together. Christian people and Churches that accept things contrary to Scripture and meld them with other Christian practices. They look like the Church in many ways but sound and act like the world.
Others bury their head in the sand. They still believe Scripture and the faith…but they withdraw from speaking in public about their faith. They don’t want to be seen practicing their faith. The Church is still there, still open for them…but the notion of reaching out or inviting others in gives them pause. Some simply give up. They see the horrors of war and family conflicts, the suffering in famines and other tragedies, and the splintering and infighting within churches and decide to give it all up…they don’t want to believe in a god that would allow such things.
But Jude encourages and contends that Christians should remain steadfast to the faith. He says,
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”
(Jude 20-23)
In the face of trials and tribulations remain steadfast. In the face of tragedy and heartache remain steadfast. As you see wars and hear of rumors of war remain steadfast. When others try to persuade or dissuade you from the truth of God’s Word remain steadfast. But what does that mean? It means to have your eyes fixed solely on Jesus, it means to be firm in your faith; firm in your purpose of living a Christian life. It means to be unwavering in your faith.
It isn’t easy remaining steadfast! It takes work. It requires you to exercise your faith. Truly we are only able to remain steadfast in the faith by God’s grace and action. But by grace we can remain steadfast; we can remain faithful to Christ and His Word.
So how do we exercise this faith we have been given? Jude says –
“build yourselves up in your most holy faith, and pray in the Spirit.”
In other words: Study! Learn! Listen! And pray. In these dangerous times, we simply must arm ourselves with the truth of God’s Word, rightly taught and preached. We must be in God’s House…hearing His Word. We must be prayerful and careful – for not everyone who claims to hold to that Word does.
And as we pray, do we pray for only those needs we may feel? For our aches and pains, for our troubles in life? Or do we pray also that God keeps us from being led astray by false teaching? Do we pray to be built up by His Spirit, through His Word?
What about others? In as much as our clinging to and learning from God’s Word will strengthen us, it also equips us to help others:
“Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy mixed with fear – hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh”
Be steadfast by going to God’s House, receiving God’s gifts of Word and Sacrament, by praying, and by going out from this place and sharing the love of Christ Jesus with the world around you. Love. Forgive. Share. By doing these things you remain steadfast to Christ.
Christ also has a promise for all who remain steadfast.
“The one who endures [the one who remains steadfast] to the end will be saved.”
(Matthew 24:13)
“To him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy…” (Jude 24)
Yes, though our world is full of dangers and deceits, wars and rumors of war, famine and danger, families fighting and in chaos, tragedy and heartbreak…God is able to keep us from falling. And he does! Dear Christian; dear child of God:
“neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate [you] from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!” Amen.
(Romans 8:38-39)
Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.
