Crept Upon

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 1:4-5

Some might consider this a mighty funny text. Yet there is an issue at stake here and it is far greater than any considered before. It is even that of God’s glory which fades not away. Consider this, God’s power and glory has no expiration date. See, those certain men which God knew before time began. Even so were they known from the womb and ordained to come before God and the nations of Jeremiah 1:5. So there are some vessels or people in his house made to honour and some to dishonour as in 2 Timothy 2:20. The text tells how they were once ordained to condemnation, walking in ways that pleased not our God. Not content with that, they also denied the Lord and lived riotously much as the prodigal son in the pigpen did. How many know that even there can God keep you. Even so will he not bring you back out should any but trust him. Here 1 John 1:9 speaks to this faithfulness to cleanse from all sin and forgive the unrighteousness. So it matters not if these were known for what they would do before time. Still Christ’s invitation remains in that whosoever will may come. Even so, such may be unaware of his mercy and grace now but they will not remain this way for long. It seems these too are in need of the same gospel they once had despised. So Scripture itself witness to such men who despised the Lord’s grace not knowing all the while it was leading them back to repentance. See, it was never in the Lord’s plan that any should perish but that all should to him return. For can’t nobody do it quite like our God. He is far better than any father, mother, brethren, or all this world has to offer. Lured by this promise, it seems that such men have crept in again as prodigals home unto our God. Yet such has never come as a surprise to the Lord, neither when they rebelled nor now that they have repented. How great is the fullness and riches of his grace. For this do we praise him who was, and is, and still yet to come. I can hear some of you saying now ‘how does he know?’ He is God is he not, thus the facts of his knowledge should come as no surprise to any. Notice then too the comparison of these men to God’s deliverance from the land of Egypt. How many remember so long ago how they lived in bondage and served those that deceived them. Yet God had appointed a day when the sins would be no more, the fear be no more, the sorrow be no more, the bondage be no more. Nor would Egypt continue to threaten as it had so often done. For when God says it’s time, you’re heading on out. Notice too his deliverers, men like Moses who murdered and lied and fled from the Lord. It seems that not only would God lead to repentance but to deliverance also. What then of the method of that deliverance if it should come with a sword. Though these men were not worthy, yet would he use them to bring forth his people. If by then you’re still not believing, well in him you really should rest. Trust me, dear church, for he will straighten all out.