Hold Fast till I Come the Wayfarer 3/18/16
Hold Fast till I Come
3/18/16
3/18/16
(Revelation 2:25)
“But that which ye have already, hold fast till I come.”
Hold fast! Hold the line! Words heard
in battle time and time again that come when defeat has seemed imminent, all
has seemed lost, hope forsaken by all but a courageous few recognizing that to
do anything less is to accept death and deny even the possibility of life.
That word of encouragement, of
exhortation to continue in the face of adversity that seems insurmountable has
time and again turned the course of battles that eventually turn the course of
wars and the course of nations as well.
From that calming reminder to be
steady, steadfast strength is given that has eventually led to the command to
advance on an enemy whose back has been broken in the face of the withering
fire given by those holding the line, holding fast to ground already taken and
to gain even more of that precious real estate bathed in the blood that has
been the price of its attainment.
Another famous command given by a
long forgotten Sergeant Major echoes as well in my mind from the days of a war
intended to end all wars, “Come on boys, over the top, let’s go, do you want to
live forever?”
His unit had long held fast, held the
line, the time had come to advance, die in retreat, or die in place, the choice
was quite clear that the time had come to take the battle to the enemy instead of
allowing his constant winnowing and discouraging dividing subtraction from the
numbers of the defenses and defenders of ground already paid for… it was time
to collect the interest on the blood expended and lives lost.
“Preacher, have you lost your mind? What
in the world does some battle from the first World War have to do with me and
my life, or with the love you are supposed to preach, or salvation, or charity,
or any of the other concepts being preached by preachers now?”
That instance mentioned comes to mind
as an illustration of the desperation faced by more than a few on this puny
planet each and every day of their lives who without that encouragement to hold
the line would choose to desert, surrender, or simply retreat to certain death
in the face of what seems to be a situation that has no tenable solution,
leaving all hope for any future.
The opening words, the opening verse
comes from Jesus’ admonition to the church in Thyratira, one of the seven
specific admonitions and instructions that apply directly to all times and all
churches, and all people of all nations that are sensible enough to hear both
the warning and the promise given throughout out bible from Genesis to
Revelation, perhaps most strident and resounding as given to John for him to
pass down to THE Church in anticipation of the command yet to be given to
advance beyond the trenches and retake what seems to have been taken despite
the blood price already paid.
(Revelation 2:18-29)
18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These
things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and
his feet are like fine brass;
19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and
thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
Take note that these words, written
in red in my bible, the same color as the blood shed already, come from the One
who shed that blood to pay the price for the “real estate” that is not mere
ground, but the souls of a creation that are far more precious than any land or
resource being sought during the process of the wars fought by men.
What is to be held is outlined
definitively in that 19th verse. The commander issuing that order to
hold fast is identified in the verse immediately preceding it.
Charity, (love, both the tender
compassionate love of concern and care, and its harsher counterpart that
requires admonition, guidance and rebuke when called for), service (action
taken, along with the spoken words to initiate and continue that love), faith,
(complete belief and trust in the ability of Jesus to deliver on the promise
made, particularly when facing the adversity that seemingly denies what has
been promised), patience (required to await that final command to advance out
of the trench that is muddied and filling rapidly with the bodies and the
stench that sickens those in the trench, as it seeks to discourage the purpose
of being there to begin with) and works yet to be accomplished that are more
difficult in order to complete the mission of holding that line.
Christ is aware of the need of
encouragement, the necessity of reminder that what is done for Him is not in
vain, a reminder that duty IS being fulfilled by those seeking to meet those requirements
despite the mumbling and treasonous behavior of too many rushing from the
trenches to join the enemy, surrendering to death, instead of obeying the only
command that guarantees life.
20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because
thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach
and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed
unto idols.
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she
repented not.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit
adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches
shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give
unto every one of you according to your works.
The deserters, naysayers, those
seeking another battle plan than that already established and in progress, that
would recruit from the ranks of the trenches in an effort to empty them of all
defenses before the battle is won cannot and will not succeed.
Those promising reward with no effort
expended, blessing without the expenditure of blood, will face the judgment of the
Court Martial that has no mercy once begun.
The charges of desertion have been
filed by themselves, as they willingly depart from their required duties
seeking to escape the effort required to accomplish those duties.
This portion of the warning is also a
reminder, that those preaching contrary to the Word, lead those who accept
their treasonous teaching to the same perdition that awaits the enemy they join
when accepting that teaching.
Still, the chance for redemption is
offered. That redemption is given, as it has been from the days of Adam, only
for the repentance and return to duty on the line, complete acceptance of the
requirements as given by our Commander.
The 23d verse once more is a reminder
of just Who is in charge, and that no falsity of heart will go undiscovered or
unpunished.
24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as
have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they
speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
The only burden is the initial burden
of duty already given. There are no extensive and impossible requirements to be
placed on any who simply accept those already provided us through the
scriptures, and despite the threats of the enemy, no price may be extracted for
the eventual reward other than that already paid!
25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to
him will I give power over the nations:
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of
a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
28 And I will give him the morning star.
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto
the churches.
Here is the promise of the reward for
duty fulfilled, the redemption assured for each that gives the required
repentance along with the further promise that the enemy cannot, will not
succeed, if what has been given is accepted, what has been commanded obeyed,
what is to be endured is endured.
I remind all once more, that the
price for that precious real estate of the soul HAS BEEN PAID!
It has been paid in full… It has been
paid in blood…paid in the only blood able to make appropriate payment for that “real
estate”.
The command to “Hold fast” must be
passed down the line.
Be ready for the next command to
advance, and do so willingly, without fear.
In answer to that long forgotten
leader’s question referenced at the beginning, the answer is either yes and I
will follow Jesus to that promised eternal life, or no thanks, I don’t think it
worth my while, so I’ll just surrender.
That command to advance is coming soon,
sooner for some than others, but for all eventually.
I choose to hold fast for now, and to
advance when the command is given!
Once given, choices made are no
longer changeable, but permanent.
The promise and the warning have been
given. The command has been given, hear and heed or ignore, once more
individual choice!
Revelation 22King James Version (KJV)
22 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear
as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the
river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and
yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing
of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and
of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their
foreheads.
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle,
neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall
reign for ever and ever.
6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and
the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the
things which must shortly be done.
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the
sayings of the prophecy of this book.
8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had
heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which
shewed me these things.
9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy
fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the
sayings of this book: worship God.
10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of
this book: for the time is at hand.
11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is
filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous
still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to
give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first
and the last.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have
right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and
murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things
in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and
morning star.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that
heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let
him take the water of life freely.
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the
prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add
unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of
this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of
the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come
quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
And, from me, a resounding Amen as
well!
2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
the Wayfarer
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