Hold On

"Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of our epistle. 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work."
2 Thessalonians 2:15-17


Paul is telling us here, that we ought to hold on to the things we were taught, Biblical things, the life-lessons, that come to us from either the written Word, or from the encouragement and teaching of friends and pastors. We are to stand fast, and to hold on. But what does it mean to stand fast? I believe that standing fast involves having the faith in the midst of terrible adversity, to keep you feet planted in one place, even though they really are wanting to run the other way. What can help us in standing fast, is knowing to whom you belong. We, as believers, belong to the King of kings and Lord of lords. David knew this when he went out to face Goliath. Elijah knew this when he faced the prophets of Baal. So too, you and I can have this assurance. What makes us weak and feeble, in my mind, is that our quiet time with the Lord isn't what it should be. We aren't spending time in the Word. We aren't spending time in prayer like we should. The lack of these things in our lives makes us weak and anemic spiritually. Standing fast is standing upon the Word of God, taking it at face value, and what it says is true, and in the face of odds that seem to not be in our favor, to continue to believe and to stand upon the Word. So when the dust settles, and the smoke clears, we are still standing.

And then Paul tells us to hold on. Sometimes, the best way to get through something is just to fasten your seat belts and hold on. Paul is telling us to hold on to things that were taught to us, by the Word or by teachers. When things don't seem to make sense logically, you need to hold on to the things you have been taught. Pilots are taught to trust their instruments, because sometimes we lose our bearings and up seems down and down seems like it is up. So we hold on to what we are taught. Things like, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Or, "All things work together for the good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose." Those are promises that we can stand fast upon, and hold on to, in the face of perilous times in our lives. Beloved, stand fast, and hold on. Shalom.