The saying goes, "when you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." Fact is, if we wait until we're at the end of our rope to tie a knot and hang on, we're in really big trouble. Hanging on, or holding on, is a lifelong priority.
"Christ was faithful as a Son over His house -whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end ... For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end" (Hebrews 3:6,14)
It's lately been impressed upon me that the Christian life can't be placed on autopilot. The concept of maintenance has been much on my mind, and the illustration of a car or house seems to fit pretty well. As you know, maintenance of a car or home is essential; left to themselves, they will wear out and fall into disrepair. And the same can easily happen in the Christian life if we are not vigilant.
The perils of hard-heartedness are mentioned several times in Hebrews three. This is the enviable outcome of failing to "hold fast" that which we have been given by God through His Son, Jesus. We take grace for granted at our own peril.
The admonition to "hold fast" sounds like a call to be glued to something. I picture a mountain climber, ascending a nearly vertical cliff, with hands tightly wrapped around the safety of his climbing rope. Anything less than a glue-like grip is to risk the peril of a deadly fall.
I wonder if my grasp of my Savior, my hope and faith, is that firm. If the Christian life seems more like a safe walk on a horizontal trail, why grasp the rope firmly? But, if it more closely resembled a steep ascent up a nearly vertical cliff, then the need to "hold fast" seems much more urgent.
While the Christian life most closely resembles a steep climb up a cliff, it's much too easy to consider it a safe walk on a pleasant trail. The rope serves as a convenient guide to loosely handle for direction, but not something to be firmly grasped for our very survival. It is a priority for each of us to consider which illustration - the steep cliff or the safe trail - serves as our true guide for living.
As our Lord takes note of us today, may He find us holding fast "firm until the end".
Steve
© 2010, Steve Taylor
"Christ was faithful as a Son over His house -whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end ... For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end" (Hebrews 3:6,14)
It's lately been impressed upon me that the Christian life can't be placed on autopilot. The concept of maintenance has been much on my mind, and the illustration of a car or house seems to fit pretty well. As you know, maintenance of a car or home is essential; left to themselves, they will wear out and fall into disrepair. And the same can easily happen in the Christian life if we are not vigilant.
The perils of hard-heartedness are mentioned several times in Hebrews three. This is the enviable outcome of failing to "hold fast" that which we have been given by God through His Son, Jesus. We take grace for granted at our own peril.
The admonition to "hold fast" sounds like a call to be glued to something. I picture a mountain climber, ascending a nearly vertical cliff, with hands tightly wrapped around the safety of his climbing rope. Anything less than a glue-like grip is to risk the peril of a deadly fall.
I wonder if my grasp of my Savior, my hope and faith, is that firm. If the Christian life seems more like a safe walk on a horizontal trail, why grasp the rope firmly? But, if it more closely resembled a steep ascent up a nearly vertical cliff, then the need to "hold fast" seems much more urgent.
While the Christian life most closely resembles a steep climb up a cliff, it's much too easy to consider it a safe walk on a pleasant trail. The rope serves as a convenient guide to loosely handle for direction, but not something to be firmly grasped for our very survival. It is a priority for each of us to consider which illustration - the steep cliff or the safe trail - serves as our true guide for living.
As our Lord takes note of us today, may He find us holding fast "firm until the end".
Steve
© 2010, Steve Taylor
posted by steve @ 8:07 AM
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