Jude 1:11
“Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.”
Every vehicle has warning lights that signal something that could be wrong with your engine. Several years ago while I was traveling to a meeting, my engine light came on while driving through the mountains. There’s not much you can do when you’re in the mountains, so I decided to keep driving and check it when I got to my destination. It wasn’t but a few minutes later when I lost almost all power in my engine. With my foot pressing the accelerator pedal to the floor, I could only get the car to go 30 miles per hour. After getting off at the next exit and checking my engine, I quickly realized that the warning light was telling me that my engine was about to blow up.
The Book of Jude is the warning light for the Christian. In this book are several warnings of which every Christian must beware. These warnings are to keep you in the faith. These warnings are to help keep you positionally where the Scriptures tell you to stand. In the verse above, God shows us three warning lights that lead to compromise.
The first warning light is compromising for the sake of convenience. Cain compromised the blood sacrifice because it was more convenient to sacrifice the first fruits of his crops. Many Christians have compromised what they believe because it was more convenient to let up than to stand for the faith. Friend, the faith will not always be convenient to follow, but you must follow it no matter how hard it may be. If you stand and follow the faith only when it is convenient, then it won’t be long before you compromise the faith.
The second warning light is compromising for reward. Balaam was willing to compromise what he knew was right because of the rewards it would give him. Again, just because you get greater results doesn’t always mean it’s right. Just because you get greater crowds doesn’t make something right to do. The faith should never be followed because it gives us bigger crowds or greater results, it should be followed because it is the right thing to do. If you follow the faith because of reward, then what will you do when you start losing the crowds? You must be careful to follow the faith because it is the right thing to do.
The third warning light is compromising for position. Korah wanted Moses’ position. To him it was all about position. Many people have compromised because they desire the position of being in the “in” crowd. Just because you can acquire greater position doesn’t make something right. Just because your influence can be greater if you are not as strong on the faith does not make it right. Many Christians follow the next big church or big influence because they enjoy the acceptance of the bigger crowd. Position must never be the reason you stand for the faith. If you acquire position by standing for the faith that’s fine; however, position must not be the focus of your desire.
Do you see any of these warning lights going off on your spiritual vehicle? Christian, nobody is above these three areas. Stay focused on the faith. Let the faith be what drives you and the three warning lights on your spiritual vehicle will never light up.