Threshing Floor Tabernacle

“When these people eat with you in your fellowship meals commemorating the Lord’s love, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you. They are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves. They are like clouds blowing over the land without giving any rain. They are like trees in autumn that are doubly dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled up by the roots.” Jude 12 NLT

This passage is a warning to the people of God. Warnings are like a yellow traffic light which means proceed with caution (if safe to do so) otherwise prepare to stop because the light is about to turn red. In some relationships you need to proceed with caution while with others you just need to stop altogether. The warnings from Jude are not regarding evil people from the outside of the Church but regarding people we may believe we can trust or confide in – people within the Church Body. The Body is much larger than TFT but TFT is not exempt. Sad to say but some in the Body of Christ are like dangerous reefs that can injure you or inject you with poisonous venom that can cause spiritual death if you’re not careful. Leaders can be like shameless shepherds that will take advantage of you for their own personal gain and cause you to withdraw.

Those you may look up to can often disappoint you and cause you to go awry. Autumn marks that transition period from summer to winter where the weather pattern goes from hot to cool to cold. Nightfall begins earlier and last longer. Trees begin to lose their leaves and what once looked full of life and vibrant begins to look barren and lifeless. While the changes in the colors of the leaves are an awesome wonder they soon fall and become a tedious task of raking and disposal. The state of dormancy prevails over many trees and plants. It’s a season of change that occurs every year. Once you’re familiar with the cycle you understand change is a part of the nature of the thing. Life for many can be a vicious cycle but that is not the intent and purpose that God has called us to. Autumn affects everyone.

Autumn falls and affects everyone but the Child of God has an advantage: 1) The Word of God – The Truth; 2) The Holy Ghost – The Spirit of Truth; 3) Jesus – The Way, The Truth, and The Life. The key to dealing with Autumn when it falls is to take heed to the warning. Don’t run off – Run to! Don’t allow the wickedness of others to contaminate you! Don’t allow corrupt leaders to disappoint or discourage you! The cycle will change. Wickedness comes and goes but righteousness will last forever. Remember Jesus – To him that overcomes!

Jesus said this, “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other (Rev 3:15 NLT)!” To be lukewarm is to be tepid which means moderately warm, lacking in passion, force or zest, an absence of enthusiasm or conviction,  not energetic or excited about the Gospel of Jesus. Autumn has that lackluster look of indifference. Don’t go there. Stay holy, passionate, and prayerful. Keep your wicks trimmed and your lamps burning.