Devotion for August 20, 2008

Hold Fast

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens": I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed I will make [those] of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie——indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And [I will write on him] My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” (Revelation 3:7-13 NKJV)

You are to hold fast to what you have namely a little strength, and the Word of God. A little strength is all it takes to serve God for He provides the real power to accomplish life-changing deeds. The Word of God is the tool used to plow the heart. The one characterized by these two traits has an open door set before him.

He has an open door into the knowledge and presence of God. Even in the synagogue of Satan these little children have remained steadfast to their faith. For them there was an earthly blessing as they would be kept from the hour of trial. For you there will be a heavenly blessing. The doors of heaven will be flung open before you and you will enter into the presence of God.

What is required of you? You must hold fast! What great temptations there are to quit. No one, if asked if they thought they would ever give up on Christ, would say yes. However, quitting takes many forms.

One might stop actively worshiping and just go through the motions. One might allow sin to seize more and more control because it just seems hopeless. One may no longer communicate with God through prayer. All of these things are signs of one who is not holding fast.

My dear friends gather strength, fan the fires, for God has set before you an open door that no one can shut! It would be a great tragedy if you remain at the doorstep and never enter. God will not drag you through the door. Oh He will undoubtedly chasten all of His children, but that chastening will lead to willful obedience. Those who give up will prove not to be His.

It is common for believers to fall into sin. It is common for believers to struggle with consistency of faith, but it is altogether uncommon for believers to give up. To give up is to apostatize so remember to hold fast.
“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all [points] tempted as [we are, yet] without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV)