ODJ: everlasting splendours

December 20, 2014 

READ: Jude 1:20-25 

You, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit (v.20).

C. S. Lewis grasped the essence of humanity and captured it in these choice words found in The Weight of Glory: “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.” He then wrote the poignant, biblically accurate fact that each of us will either become an “immortal horror” or an “everlasting splendour.”

In the early years of his life, Jesus’ half-brother Jude couldn’t grasp the fact that his oldest brother was indeed divine, let alone that He was an everlasting splendour. Apparently after Jesus’ death and resurrection, however, Jude came to believe that Jesus is the Saviour of the world (Acts 1:14; 1 Corinthians 9:5), and he began to spread His message.

In the book that carries his name, Jude—now an old man—warned his readers of the dangers of false teachers and their treacherous message. But he then concluded the book by calling all true believers to grasp who they are in Jesus: (1) possessors of the “most holy faith”; (2) vessels filled with “the power of the Holy Spirit”; (3) recipients of “the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ” and the “eternal life” found in Him; (4) children who have received “God’s love” (Jude 1:20-21).

It’s vital that we remind other believers in Jesus and receive reminders from them that God has made us His everlasting splendours. The world, with its false views and faith-belittling ways, will keep telling us that we’re simply “immortal horrors”. And that’s why we must constantly “build each other up” in our faith, helping and rescuing one another when our faith wavers (vv.20,22-23).

You, as a believer in Jesus, are an everlasting splendour who one day will be in Jesus’ “glorious presence” (v.24). Build up another believer with those truths today! —Tom Felten

365-day plan› James 2:1-13