Jude 22-23 tells us that in these last days, of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear. Is it our fear, or their fear? Properly understood, it ought to be both. Fear is a tremendous motivator, and fear of the Lord is wisdom. Salvation is nigh them that fear him (Psalm 85:9). That’s because a lost man looks for a savior. So fear serves him well. For us, there are strangers, co-workers, store clerks we see every day that are lost and not just destined for hell, they’re already there. Their standing with God is that they are under his wrath. The same way our standing with God has us already seated with Christ in Heaven, their standing has them already in the lake of fire. They don’t have to do anything to go to hell. They are already there. Does that reality instill us with a holy sense of fear? That fear should be a great motivation to summon the love and the courage to share the gospel truth.
