Hold Fast!

Reading the Bible this morning, my eyes came across this exhortation of Christ in Revelation 2:25:  "But hold fast what you have till I come."  No matter how difficult or hopeless our situation may appear on the surface, we are to hold fast to what we have.  We may not have much faith, but let us exercise it.  We may not have many talents, but may we use them feverishly for the glory of God.  There may not be much daylight left, but let's work hard until Christ returns.  Our hands may be blistered and sore, our legs almost without strength.  Keep going!  Don't give up!  Don't concede any ground to Satan in your heart or mind!  God has not forgotten us, and nothing is impossible for those who believe.  Be strong in the LORD and the power of His might, having done all to stand!

A great example of this holding fast can be seen in the life of Shammah the son of Agee, one of David's mighty men.  When all of his fellow Israelite warriors fled, he found himself alone facing a troop of disciplined Philistines.  Instead of running from the fight or giving up ground against seemingly impossible odds, he stood up against them!  2 Samuel 23:11-12 recounts his courage:  "The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. Then the people fled from the Philistines. ¹² But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. And the LORD brought about a great victory."  Can you see Shammah taking up position in that field of lentils all alone?  He wasn't alone, for His God was with him.  Shammah only had a field of lentils, but he defended that field.  "You want this field?  These are God's lentils!  My lentils!  I'll die before I give up!"  He kept going and God brought a great victory.

Eleazar the son of Dodo was another mighty man.  Finding himself in a situation similar to Shammah - alone and without backup - he defied the Philistines and fought against them valiantly.  2 Samuel 23:10 says, "He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder."  He fought so hard that his hand stuck to his sword.  He was unable to drop it.  Again, the LORD brought about a great victory because there was one man of God willing to hold fast.  The Bible is referred to in scripture as the "sword of the Spirit."  Oh that that our hearts and minds would cleave to God's truth like the hand of Eleazar involuntarily gripped his sword from use!  Let us cling to Christ alone, the Word of God!

Hold fast, brother and sister in Christ.  It matters not if you are the only one you perceive on the field of battle.  Keep praying, keep seeking, keep running, keep trusting, keeping following Jesus without intermission!  Even if all have forsaken you, God will be with you.  You may only have a little strength, but take heart!  He will never leave you or forsake you, and God will bring about a great victory for His glory!