April 18: HOLDING FAST TO HOPE

“But hold fast what you have till I come.” Revelation 2:25

A small minority is used instrumentally by Jesus to show that Christian thought and actions, service and steadfast perseverance demonstrate the transforming power of His Holy Spirit. Beloved, your transformation is not conditioned upon favorable circumstances.

There are numerous variations in English translations of the Bible for the small minority of those who persist in faithfulness to the Lord. These terms include the remnant, the rest, the remainder, the residue, or the remaining ones. Chapter 12 of Revelation presents the true people of God as a faithful woman, and Satan is enraged with the woman,…and with the remnant (or rest) of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (v.17).

Jesus calls all of His faithful ones in every age to hold fast. The Greek word here is krateo, and by definition it means to exert one’s own strength and might in holding on. Christ is telling His children to hold on to Him. He is the Word of God (John 1:1,14; Revelation 19:13), and that Word places the unchanging, everlasting gospel into the hearts and minds of His followers. He, Himself, is the anchor of our souls.

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil… Hebrews 6:19

Among the widely accepted deceptions that came into the church that arose out of Thyatira is the counterfeit confessional booth with a little curtain (or veil) separating it into two compartments. Church members are instructed to confess their sins to a priest who sits on the other side of the curtain, who then pronounces the sinner “absolved”. The priest prescribes a list of things to do for penance as a follow-up, just to make sure... This “confession” must be made at least once a year. By this practice, the daily personal relationship with Jesus is snuffed out, exactly as Daniel was shown (see Daniel 8:11-13).

Our adversary’s intention is to transfer our “hold” onto the counterfeits that he devises. But our risen Savior ministers before His Father on our behalf in the heavenly sanctuary. Apart from daily conversation with Him in a love relationship, we can accomplish nothing that will last. We are invited to confess all to Him, and to listen to Him by staying in His Word.

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