◄ Holding Fast ►

Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Hebrews 12:1

But that which ye have already, HOLD FAST, ’till I come.
Revelation 2:25

The Daily Round

Life is full of busyness and chores and things to do and activities to be done. The daily round of daily life certainly keeps us occupied.. food to cook; grass to cut; people to call; beds to make; equipment to mend! There is no sin in such everyday tasks and necessary activities, but they can be weights, distractions, and stumbling blocks in our spiritual life. They can take our focus from what is truly important – to the ‘urgent‘ things of life.

Everyday Distractions

There are other distractions that can affect our Christian walk – like despondency. A heavy, discouraged heart can all too often drag our spirits down into uselessness. Sometimes this can cause murmurings, dissatisfactions, and even worry within us.. just as the children of Israel, who murmured on the journey to their promised land. But murmurings and complaints can ofttimes ripen into rebellion and ruin, and such grievances can all too often lead to doubting God’s love and faithfulness.

Source of Supply

We should fly to the Word of God to seek out and discover the goodness of God. We should look only to Jesus for He is the One, and only source of all supply – but all too often we try to dig our own cisterns of water – to satisfy our own thirst. All too often we stray into the camps of others who are simply searching for answers. All too often, we misapply His truths, in order to satisfy our own fleshly curiosities. We should never seek for answers outside the Word of God.. (or in addition to His Word). To look beyond Christ is to doubt His truth and demonstrates a rebellious heart. When we fly from one doctrine to other ideologies, we are demonstrating inconstancy. When we fluctuate in this way we risk being tossed about by every wind of doctrine.

Discouraging Distractions

We live a life of busyness and chores and things to do and activities to be completed. We live in an anxious and instant society, with it’s ‘must have it now,’ mentality, and sometimes we lose sight of the fact that our spiritual development takes a lifetime – God is in no hurry to pander to our desires for instant answers. Satan is relentless in his efforts to distract us from the Word, by all and every means, and apart from the sin of pride, there is no greater tool in his armoury than discouragement.

Important Focus

We are told to lay aside every weight and every distraction and fix our eyes on Jesus. We are reminded to set aside the sin of disbelief that so easily torments and frustrates us. We’re encouraged to run with patience the race set before us and keep Him in focus. We are clearly told to look away from the urgencies of life to the important One. We are to look unto Jesus - but Why? Because He is the alpha and omega of our faith. He is the author and the finisher of our faith. He is the provider and the sustainer of all we need. He is the ‘all in all’ that we require for life and godliness, and it is all to be discovered in the Word of God.

Unsound Doctrines

It is not only starting of the race that is important but the completing of the course, and it takes time and it takes perseverance to run the race set before us, with patience – and it needs both effort and endeavour to lay aside all distractions and outer influences. But we are told that in the end-times there will be a famine in the land.. not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD” Amos 8:11. We are told that in the end times many will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears” 2Timothy 4:3

Bread from Heaven

We are told to run the race and we are told to aim for the goal – the finishing post. Jesus Himself gave us the directions we are to follow within the written Word.. but all too few seem to really feed on Him, Who is the Bread from heaven. Jesus said to them: “I am the Bread of life: he that comes to Me shall never hunger; and he that believes on Me shall never thirst” John 6:35 But He also warned us against adopting the ways and traditions and doctrine of men.. but to receive the Word of God with all readiness of mind, and to search the scriptures daily, to see whether those things were so” Acts 17:11. But if men divert their attention away from the goal – it causes them to stumble.

The Finish Line

The race is a long and arduous one and one that becomes increasingly difficult. Many make a good start in faith but faint by the wayside and do not continue. The closer we get to the finishing post – the steeper the ascent appears to be, and the easier it is for us to divert our attention away from the important finishing line, to a whole range of alternative routes that are more palatable to the flesh.

Watch and Endure

Jesus is coming to take us to be with Himself soon, but we know not the day or hour. He has given us His instructions to watch and to listen; to wait and to patiently endure. He has graciously identified for us the season and reason for His return, and He has reminded us that today is the day of salvation. But He has also warned that many will fall asleep when they see Him ‘delay’. While others will scoff at His return – if it falls outside of their own understandings.

Coming Quickly

“Let us hold fast that which is good.” Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for He who promised is faithful Hebrews 10:23 Behold, I come quickly, HOLD FAST to that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown Revelation 3:11