Jude wrote, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 1:20-21). Jude is saying to keep ourselves in the place where we can experience the blessings that God loves to give us. This means to not get ourself in a position where we’re going to feel His chastening and His punishment. Jesus said, “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (John 15:9-10).
When we live a lifestyle of obedience to God we will enjoy the full shower of God’s love and blessings. But as soon as we become disobedient, we step out of that place of blessing into the place of being disciplined by God (Hebrews 12:3-11). Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry” (1 Samuel 15:22-23). Because he didn’t obey the Lord, King Saul lost his position of being King over Israel and his life.
When we commit ourself to the will of God; submit to what the Spirit of God wants us to do, and submit to His leadership and direction in our life, we will always be living according to the Word of God. Staying in the place of obedience where God’s love is poured out, even in the midst of all sorts of problems in our life. “Waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.” It means to live in the light of the return of Jesus Christ, live in the light of eternity, live in the light of the future, live in eager anticipation of the Lord’s return, and wait anxiously for Jesus Christ’ returning to this earth. Jude isn’t thinking of a past mercy or a present mercy, he’s thinking of the greatest mercy of all, the most undeserved mercy; that’s eternal life in heaven in the presence of God (Revelation 21:3).
Paul wrote to the Thessalonian believers, “How you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10). “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-13). Live in the light of Jesus Christ’s return and seeing Him face to face and hearing Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Mathew 25:21). The apostle John wrote, “Keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” (1 John 5:21).
The English word “wait” is translated from the Greek word “anameno” which means “Waiting with patience and confident expectancy.” We can confidently know that the Lord will someday come back to this earth. Because of this we should live our life being ready for Him to come back at any moment, and never being in a situation where we would be ashamed of His appearing. We are called to live a lifestyle of discipline of building ourselves up in the most holy faith; praying in the Holy Spirit; keeping ourselves in the love of God, always staying in the place of obedience to Jesus Christ. Waiting eagerly and always being ready for that mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that brings us eternal life.
Jeremiah wrote, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). Paul wrote, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Ephesians 2:4-5). Paul told Timothy, “It’s a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance; Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost. And yet for this reason I found mercy.”
Jude says, “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Jude 24-25). When Jude talks about all the mercies of God he cannot keep from praising God for His eternal mercies toward sinful humanity. It’s by the mercy of God that we are forgiven, justified and sanctified. It’s by the mercy of God that we will live in the presence of God for all eternity.
“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me. The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever” (Psalm 138:7-8). By the power of the Holy Spirit we can live our entire life, strengthened, secured, protected, and useful for God’s purposes. We are built up in the faith, praying in the Spirit, obedient to God, and His love pours out blessings upon our life. We live in the light of His return and our eternal life in His presence. “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:1-2).
