◄ Hold Fast ►

Patient Endurance

Perseverance on the part of the saint is the prime requisite of the overcomer. Patient endurance under life’s tremendous testing trials is the saint’s chief objective. And believers in Philadelphia were commended for their patient endurance: because you have kept My command to persevere… to patiently endure.

Precious Promise

They are promised they will not be overwhelmed by the onslaught from Satan. Satan, that slippery serpent, that overcome Job’s wife in her trials and Demas in his. Satan, that evil fallen angel, who overcame all but two of the wilderness wanderers. Satan, that demonic devil, whose aim is to shipwreck the perseverance of all God’s children.

Prime Requisite

Perseverance on the part of the saint is the prime requisite for the overcomer, and overcoming is the fruitful consequence of the perseverance of the saints of God. For fruitful works (works of righteousness), emanate from the one who perseveres. But the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan seeks his downfall, and the church epistles are saturated with the need for the saint’s perseverance.

Tremendous Trials

Patient endurance under life’s tremendous trials and testing is the saints chief object, and overcoming is the beneficial product of a believer who patiently-endures – and works of righteousness are the clean, bright, shining clothes of the bride.

Eternal Security

Satan can never destroy a saints eternal security, but is set to disqualify his rewards. Peter and James and John and Paul all tell, in urgent tones, the importance of endurance. The Scriptures are flooded with examples of saints, taken to the hope’s extremity. Men and maids, exhausted by the Satan’s onslaught, who remained faithful to God. Guys and gals, pursued by the enemy’s assaults, who sadly yielded under pressure – nations and individuals, at the limits of endurance, who witnessed His deliverance.

God is Faithful

And the church composed of a small faithful remnant of good, faithful servants is told by her Lord to hold fast.. to hold fast to the end: hold fast that no one take their reward. Trial and temptations, however dreadful and distressing are the experience of all: for no temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Cor.10:13

Encouraging Word

And down through the centuries, Christ’s words have spurred sagging saints on to victory: behold, I am coming quickly – hold fast to what you have, that no one may take your crown. Rev.3:11. Six times this word ‘quickly‘ is rehearsed in these passages. Six times Christ’s encouraging, I come quickly, falls in these saints ears.

Urgent Word

Contextually, the urgency of this statement is connected with suddenness. The frame of reference for this word.. quickly, is the swiftness of Christ’s appearing. Saints taken to the extreme limit of their endurance under life’s trials and testings, are exhorted to hold on.. hold on to what you have and don’t give up: for behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast to what you have, that no one may take your crown. Rev.3:11 For the return of the Lord Jesus for His Church is very near: behold, I am coming quickly!

His Soon Appearing

Christ is offering rewards to the man or woman that will overcome in this world, and the 1 warning this spiritual church is given is that of their potential loss is to hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. Crowns are the attire of regal power and the badge of kingly authority and Christ is seeking overcomers to rule and reign in His soon coming kingdom.

Soon Return

May each of us however beset by the taunts and torments of the evil one, hold fast to what we have, that no one take our crown. May none of us fall at the final hurdle as we watch for the soon return of our Lord: for behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast to what you have, that no one may take your crown. Behold, I am coming quickly!