As Jude warned against the dangers of abandoning the true gospel and embracing false teaching, he gave two examples: angels who became demons and two sinful cities which were destroyed.  The Bible only gives us glimpses of how Satan and his demons fell from their privileged position in heaven as evil rulers are described in demonic terms (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:11-19), but Jude affirms that they wilfully abandoned the safety of heaven for the terrors of hell.  They were not able to escape God’s authority; and their hope of independent power continues to be frustrated by the chains of the Almighty as they await their final judgement.

Sodom and Gomorrah despised their wealth as market cities in the fertile plains of the Jordan.  Instead of giving thanks to God for His goodness, they abused His grace and worshiped their lusts: the cities became obsessed with sexual practices of many kinds.  They were impervious to the truth which Lot knew, but which captured his wife and corrupted his daughters (Genesis 19:1-38).  The volcanic eruption which destroyed those cities served as a warning to God’s people and prophesied the eternal punishment of those who refuse the truth or who abandon what they have known (2 Peter 2:6-10).

Today, much of the world is obsessed by its hunger for personal satisfaction, pleasure and power.  Many fulfil the descriptions in Romans 1:21-32 as they abandon their worship of the Creator; worshipping His creation instead and making it serve their desires, rather than giving glory to God. In the same way that Jude alerted the church of his day to the eternal dangers of abandoning the truth, we need to hear the same words.

We are not all-powerful; we cannot keep twisting the truth to suit our own lusts assuming that God does not know or care. We are not masters of our own destiny but have to face our Heavenly Master.  Therefore, let us repent by throwing out the lies and delusions of grandeur which have become accepted trappings of modern life.  Instead, let us come back to the Lord (Isaiah 55:7) to seek His mercy and find grace to help us in our weakness (Hebrews 4:14-16) – so that He might be glorified and we will be assured of His love for ever.