“These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever” (Jude 12-13).
Compressed into five vivid word pictures, Jude graphically describes the sobering perils false teachers/change agents are to themselves and others.
They destroy faith by creating false hope: They are clouds without water.
A thirsty land—parched by heat and arid conditions—longs for a gentle refreshing rain. Anticipation builds as rain clouds move from the horizon to overhead. These hopes, however, are dashed when the clouds move away without leaving a drop of moisture.
Change agents speak great swelling words which are smooth and impressive. Because people are pointed to a faith in them instead of God, their words—when believed—ultimately cultivate a spiritual cancer of disappointment and disillusionment. Instead of offering an anchor to the soul which is steadfast and sure, they promise much and deliver nothing of substance or benefit.
Spiritual dreamers subvert Biblical hope and then blow out of town.
