Jude 1:1

Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

As we grow old(er), our golf balls don’t seem to be traveling as far and the eyes don’t seem to be able to track them as long. For some reason, we are more tired after walking 18 holes. The promises from the new equipment ads must be overrated and the new finish on the balls must be making them harder to see in the distance. We may say these things to our friends, but we realize our bodies aren’t capable of doing the same things we could in the past. Father Time is undefeated and our physical bodies are deteriorating. We may hasten it’s demise by healthy eating and exercise, but sooner or later, time and mileage will take its toll. Our salvation, however, is eternal and never ages. If anything, our salvation should gain energy as we grow in knowledge and wisdom. The more we experience in life, the greater the realization of His guiding hand and His process of preservation. The Book of Jude is rarely taught or preached. So much is said in its first verse. Jude was the half brother of Jesus, but yet he felt it more significant to identify himself as a servant of Jesus Christ. He then tells how we are set apart from the world by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ. Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are forever saved and preserved for all of eternity. There may be a falling away on our part, but the power from the blood still has the staying and preserving strength as it did when we first were saved. John Gill preached we are not saved from the indwelling of sin, but we are free from sin’s dominion and tyranny. Further, when blood is applied to our heart, we are free from a total and final falling away. When we feel physically and spiritually weak, we cannot forget we have a more than capable workout partner who specializes in “heavy lifting.”