The phrase “hold fast” is used many times in scripture. For example, in relation to “hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21, ESV), “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering” (Heb 10:23 ESV), “hold fast the pattern of sound words…in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13 NKJV), “I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown” (Revelation 3:11 ESV) and “…hold fast what you have until I come” (Revelation 2:25 ESV).
Other biblical translations use grip, grasp, cling to and hold tightly, all which are synonyms that suggest strong forces want to take away what has been given to us: our faith in Christ. We are not only admonished by the likes of Paul when he wrote to Timothy and Titus, but even Jesus told the churches to hold fast until He returned.
While writing this post, I wondered if I truly knew what holding fast meant. Yes, I know it means to hold on tightly to God no matter what, but actually having the faith or strength to do that can be the problem.
There are many examples of people who held fast to their confession of hope and trust in God in the bible, not least the persecuted and martyred apostles, but no one sums it up better for me than the story of Job.
A blameless and upright man, through no fault of his own, he was attacked by Satan and lost all his children, businesses, money and health (Job 1). So stricken was he with painful boils and erupting sores, that he had to use broken pottery to scrape his skin (Job 2:9), presumably to alleviate his intense itch and discomfort. This condition lasted for months (Job 7:3). He was so despondent and miserable that he longed even for death (Job 3:21).
Incredulously in all this, he did not turn his back on God.
Even his wife, who must also have been grieving their terrible loss, turned to him and said, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die” (Job 2:9 ESV). Yet, he held fast his faith in God and refused to blame Him.
Would I have held on as tightly as he did, if I was in his shoes? This question made me squirm as I examined myself.
But in my research for this post, to my surprise, I discovered something called a “holdfast.”
In woodworking, things can get very shaky and a holdfast clamps a piece of wood firmly to a workbench. Likewise, the storms of life can knock us off our feet and cause us to loosen our grip on the very thing that’ll save us = God.
But good news! He is our hold fast, and we are never out of his power and restoration.
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling or falling into sin, and to present you unblemished [blameless and faultless] in the presence of His glory with triumphant joy and unspeakable delight” Jude 1:24 (AMP)
Living in a fallen world as we do, it is inevitable that we will struggle with sin, affliction, trials, and persecution. But God has promised to keep us clamped and steady.
We also have the Holy Spirit helping us:
“Guard [with greatest care] and keep unchanged, the treasure [that precious truth] which has been entrusted to you [that is, the good news about salvation through personal faith in Christ Jesus], through [the help of] the Holy Spirit who dwells in us” (2 Timothy 1:14 AMP)
When things get rough, I pray for grace for you and I to remember to rely on God’s power and not our own. It is He who will keep us upright and help us hold fast to the promise of His hope!
This article first appeared on reflectionsinthemess.com
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