"Now to Him who is
able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His
glory, blameless and with great joy—to the only God our Savior, through Jesus
Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now
and forever. Amen." (Jude 24-25)
In a world that feels increasingly
unstable, where moral foundations shift like sand and false teachings creep
around every corner, we desperately need an anchor. Jude understood this. After
spending most of his brief letter warning believers about dangerous deceptions
and the urgent need for spiritual vigilance, he concludes with something
remarkable—a doxology (A
doxology is a short statement of praise that glorifies God) that
simultaneously praises God and reminds us of His unshakeable commitment to us.
This isn't merely a beautiful closing doxology.
It's a declaration of war
against our fears and a proclamation of divine promise. Jude tells us
that God is "able to protect you from
stumbling." That word "able" should make us pause
and breathe deeply. Our God stands at His post like a faithful sentry, keeping
watch over our souls. We live in uncertain times, surrounded by seductive philosophies and moral quicksand that are designed to make us stumble. Yet God, infinite
in power, perfect in faithfulness, boundless in love, can keep us from falling.
But here's what strikes me most profoundly:
Jude doesn't just say God
can keep us from stumbling now. He promises that God will make us
"stand in the presence of His glory, blameless
and with great joy." Think about that future moment. The Day of
Judgment. The time when every secret is revealed and every life is evaluated.
On that day, we won't stand because of our faithfulness, our good work, or our
spiritual résumé. We'll stand because of His power working in us.
And we won't stand condemned—we'll
stand vindicated, joyful, radiant. God will present us before Himself as
blameless sacrifices, completely transformed and without flaw. If you've ever
felt the weight of your own inadequacy, if you've ever wondered whether you're
"good enough" to make it to the end, let this truth wash over you: your
perseverance doesn't ultimately depend on your grip on God, but on His grip on
you.
Notice how Jude then shifts our eye to
God's exclusive deity: He is "the only God our Savior." In our
pluralistic age, this sounds narrow, even offensive. But it's wonderfully true.
There is one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and He alone saves.
Every path doesn't lead to the same destination. Every spirituality isn't
equally valid. God the Father is the source of our salvation, and that
salvation comes exclusively through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Here's the beautiful paradox: God
made us to worship Him, to glorify and enjoy Him forever. But sin broke
that capacity within us. We cannot do what we were created to do; we cannot
truly worship the one true God—except through Jesus Christ. He is the
only mediator who bridges the infinite split between our fallen humanity and
God's holy perfection. Through Christ's life, death, resurrection, and
continuing intercession, we can finally become what we were always meant to be:
worshipers who bring glory back to the Father.
This raises an urgent question we must
each answer honestly: Are we trusting in Jesus Christ alone? Are we coming
to God in His name, resting the entire hope of our salvation on Him? It
would be tragic to appreciate a beautiful message about praising God while
missing the very means by which we can praise Him eternally.
Jude concludes with a crescendo of
worship: "To Him be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all
time, now and forever." These aren't qualities we give to God; they're
realities we acknowledge about Him. God doesn't need our praise to become glorious;
He already is glorious. Our worship simply aligns us with ultimate reality and
fulfills our deepest purpose.
Here's what I want you to take away
today: Life is fundamentally about God's glory, not our comfort.
Everything else, our plans, problems, preferences, and pain, must be understood
in light of His ultimate glory. The tragedy of our world isn't primarily human
suffering; it's that God doesn't receive the glory due His name. When we
begin to burn with desire for His glory, something wonderful happens: we
discover that the God we worship is also the God who blesses us.
So today, whatever uncertainties you
face, whatever battles rage around you, remember this: He is able. He will keep
you. He will make you stand. And He is infinitely worthy of your trust and
praise.
May the Lord bless you and keep you,
and may the Lord allow these words to renew your spirit.
Dr. Dimas Castillo
