Jump Start # 994

Jude 22-23 And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.”

Jude is a very graphic writer. He doesn’t use flowery words or nice poetic rhythm in his short book. He’s in your face, blunt, plain, and obvious. Our verse today is one illustration of that. Jude is telling his audience how they should treat others. These folks were not in the same place spiritually. Some were doubting. Some were nearly gone. Some were polluted with sin.

The natural reaction would be to avoid them. We are good at that. When the discussion gets to a place that we do not like, we avoid further talk but switching subjects or walking away. When there is someone that we particularly do not like, we avoid them. We ignore them, do not invite them, and walk past them. We avoid controversy. Some things are messy and we simply do not like messes. Jude was telling his readers to be different. Avoidance was not the theme here. Mercy and snatching are the words here. That  implies contact and being involved.

Mercy on those doubting. Mercy is a common word that people said to Jesus. The two blind men, the ten lepers, the father of the demon possessed boy—all appealed for mercy from Jesus. Relief. Help. Mercy implies forgiveness. It was a common thought that sins brought about pain and suffering. Instead of asking for sight, the blind men asked for mercy. Get forgiveness and the consequence, in their case, blindness, would go away. Give us mercy, they asked Jesus.

Jude is now telling brethren, ‘have mercy on those who doubt.’ Not direction I would have anticipated. Mercy carries the idea of patience. Don’t be short with those who doubt. Don’t walk away from them so quickly. Help them. Show them. Teach them. Have mercy on them.

Jude then says, ‘save others, snatching them out of the fire.’ I have a good friend who is a fire fighter. Josh is amazing. When he is in the zone talking about fire safety or what he does, he is passionate and driven. He instructs others who are learning to be fire fighters. Snatching others out of the fire—what a powerful expression. Jude is not talking about camp fires, arson, houses burning or anything like that. The fire he has in mind is the fires of Hell. Save them. Snatch them out. This is done by reminding them, teaching them, guiding them.

The work of saving from the fire is tough work. The heat of the fire, the danger of death, the closeness of losing one makes this work intense and urgent. Many do not realize that they are so close to the fire. Many do not recognize that their souls are nearly gone. They have ignored God and built a life based upon the pleasures of now and the fires of destruction will overcome them unless they are saved. Snatched. I’ve never stuck my hand in fire to pull something out, but that’s the image. Something is in that fire that shouldn’t be there. Something is worth saving. Here, it’s souls.

While there is breath in the body, there is always hope. Don’t give up on anyone. Don’t stop trying. When one door is shut, look for another. When one approach didn’t work, find another. Snatch them. Reach into that fire with the hope of Christ. There is a better life. There is a life that ends in Heaven rather than the fire. There is a life that is filled with joy and hope. Fire destroys. Fire ruins. Fire hurts.

These graphic words don’t fit too well in our “everyone is ok” society. Recognizing someone is in the fire, means that you recognize someone is wrong. It means you want them to be where you are. It means you want them to change. Reach into that fire. It’s hot. Grab them. Pull them out. This tells me that there comes a point when plain talking, to the point is necessary. This snatching out of the fire business is tough. It’s serious.

To snatch someone out, they must want to leave the fire. They have been burned. They have been injured. Their life is a mess. Maybe the wheels came off the marriage. Divorce is now taking place. They have ignored God. They have lived selfishly and now their mate wants out. Fire surrounds this soul. What a mess he’s gotten into. Everything is nearly gone. Now he wants help. Snatch him. Save him.

Maybe it’s someone who has been caught by the law. Prison awaits him. Scared and sorry he feels the flames around him. He doesn’t want to give up. Snatch him.

Maybe it’s someone who has ignored the addictive nature of sin. Pornography, drugs, alcohol have been every day events. His soul has been rotting within him. He has changed. He hates the way he is. He wants out. Snatch him.

The snatchers must have their eyes open. They must be ready and be there. Some folks ignore all warnings and drift and drift away from God until they are engulfed in flames. They realize now that they are in trouble. Everything is burning up. Everything is falling apart. Their wonderful world has turned out to be not so wonderful. They want out. They want help. Snatch them. Save them. Understand, some are in a real mess by this point. The trouble is deep. The solutions involve more than simply “come to church.” What they need is more than a verse. They need contact, influence, answers and someone pulling them back. This is hard work. This is intense. This is not for those who are bothered by messy lives. This consumes huge amounts of time. The result is a soul that is spared. A soul that is saved.

Not everyone is the same. Not everyone is safe. Not everyone is fireproof. There are those that you meet even today who are standing in the flames of destruction. Many do not even recognize it. Some want to remain in the flames. But a few really want out. Snatch them. Save them. Help them.

Can you do that?

Roger