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by Gino Geraci
. . .wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever (Jude 13b).
Even the least educated child knows the earth revolves around the sun. Planets circle our sun in ever increasing paths depending on their distance. Every once in a while rogue matter enters our atmosphere and burns bright. Occasionally a brave piece of celestial matter makes it all the way to the surface of our planet and the meteor becomes a meteorite. We call them shooting stars.
Jude uses wandering celestial bodies to describe the function of apostates. The apostates, like planets, fall under the influence and control of the sun, only to try and break orbit and establish their own course.
Planets are unreliable to chart a course or begin a journey. If you are lost, to follow a moving celestial body will only get you more lost. If you are lost, you need a fixed object in which to guide you and to point you in the right direction.
False teachers are spinning out of control. They have moved out of their intended orbit. This is one of the great tragedies of sin; it takes you off course of God's best and highest.
The apostle Jude reveals the final destination of the apostate, “the blackness of darkness forever.” What does this mean? Does it mean everlasting destruction? Does it mean absence of light? Does it mean absence the presence of God? We find a clue in Matthew 8:12 which reads, But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Can you conceive of someplace, where forever, you are absent from the presence of God? Can you imagine of a place of pitch blackness, the complete the absence of light, but with the presence of a burning, cleansing, purging, unquenchable fire that burns objects that can never be completely consumed? Can you imagine a place where there is an absolute absence of light and love, where no other creature can be seen or heard or felt?
That is exactly the type of place reserved for apostates, the wandering stars, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
© 2007 by Gino Geraci
He has served as a police chaplain for several police departments and currently serves as a Police Chaplain for the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Department. Gino has provided emergency service support in many national tragedies. He was a first responder at Columbine High School, Ground Zero in New York, and Platte Canyon High School.
Gino has appeared on scores of national and local radio programs as a guest, including television appearances with Lee Stroebel's Faith Under Fire. He currently hosts a daily radio program with Salem Media in Denver, Colorado area.
Gino is a much sought after conference speaker. He has conducted leadership conferences, Bible conferences, and emergency service support conferences with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Samaritans' Purse, Gospel for Asia in India and Sri Lanka, the Bible League in Africa, Food For The Poor in Jamaica, Mike McIntosh Crusades in Mexico, Somebody Loves You Bible Conferences with Raul Ries in Chile, Columbia and Peru, and pastor's conferences in much of the continental United States.
Gino is currently the pastor of Calvary South Denver where he continues to minister, preach, teach, and serve.
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