The Gloom Of Utter Darkness Forever

This describes the punishment that awaits all who reject God, and most certainly awaits those who intentionally lead people away from God for selfish gain.

A brief study of Jude 1:12–13.

“These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.”

Jude 1:12–13

Jude compares the certain men, meaning false teachers, with “hidden reefs” at the church’s “love feasts.” The feasts Jude refers to were commonly called “agape” feasts, and it describes the habit of the early church to regularly meet together and share a meal. He calls these men “hidden reefs,” because just as a reef hidden beneath the water poses an unseen danger to boats, these men posed an unseen danger in the church. They deceitfully presented themselves as righteous people, but they were really like wolves in sheep’s clothing who gorged themselves at the church love feasts while others went hungry.

The love feasts were meant to be a time of joyful fellowship where people brought food to share. For slaves in the church these feasts may have been their best opportunity for a good meal. These certain men corrupted the time of fellowship as they greedily feasted “without fear” in their sinful selfishness, like shepherds who only feed themselves. If we come to church in any setting with a self-serving attitude it will always tarnish the fellowship of God’s people. We should come to church with the goal of serving others, pouring Christ into one another, and striving to, “outdo each other in showing honor” (Rom. 12:10).

These certain men were like, “waterless clouds, swept along by winds.” They presented themselves as godly, but like a cloud without water, blown to and fro by the winds of their emotions and sinful desires, they brought nothing of value to anyone. They did not come to serve but rather to be served. Like, “fruitless trees in late autumn,” they bore no fruit. By late autumn most trees should produce fruit. These men were like fruit trees who, instead of producing fruit for others, only took for themselves. They greedily feasted on the water, soil and sunlight of the Lord’s people, but never produced fruit of righteousness.

While we rightly consider the ocean to be a beautiful work of God, it is also a powerful and terrible thing when the waves rise and foam. These men were also like, “wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame”. This verse echoes the words of Isaiah 57:20, “But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt.” These men were visibly active like the waves of the sea, but their activity served no good purpose. Activeness in the church is not proof of godliness.

Their active, selfish, and empty religion was like wild waves of the sea that only served to cast up the foam of their own shame. Picture the image of a shoreline covered in debris and filth after a heavy storm. These men were also like, “wandering stars.” A star that is not stationary is of no use for navigation or direction. For a brief moment they shown brightly, and perhaps amazed the people of God with their feigned godliness. But like a star flashing across the sky, their illumination was fleeting. The fruit of their deceit and false teaching left only darkness in its wake.

Lastly, Jude tells us of the terrible fate that awaits such people, “for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.” This describes the punishment that awaits all who reject God, and most certainly awaits those who intentionally lead people away from God for selfish gain. Everyone who does not repent of their sin and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation will spend eternity in, “the gloom of utter darkness.” The debt we owe to God for our sin is infinite, because he is infinite. Only the sacrifice of Jesus is sufficient to pay for our sins, the perfect one who is fully God and fully man.

References:

bible.com

enduringword.com

biblehub.com

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