Hold Fast

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 10
"Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown" (Revelation 3:1111Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (Revelation 3:11)).
The day is dark, and midnight is approaching,
But soon the dawn, and Christ will come again:
Oh! may we watch for Him, and e'er remember
His love for us, may it not speak in vain.
The church for which He died is in confusion,
Is split and scattered wide by failing men,
But still, God sees it only in perfection,
"There is one body," true, e'en now, as then.
And God is undisturbed by all this chaos,
His purposes He's working just the same;
And in this day of ruin and declension,
He's gathering a people for His Name.
As He looks down on all the vast profession,
He knows each heart that truly loves His name,
And in His sight, they precious are, and spotless,
Because their trust is placed in God's own Lamb.
In this last day, of weakness and declension,
When coldness and indifference abound,
May we "Hold Fast" to God's most precious precepts,
May we, with those that love His Name, be found.
Rememb'ring Him, as He in love requested,
"Remember Me, until I come again"
A simple service, yet with fullest meaning,
Oh! may our hearts respond in worship then.
And may our hearts beat true to Christ our Savior,
To keep His Word, and not deny His Name,
To take our place "Outside the camp" with Jesus,
Bear His reproach, His suffering and shame.
For though today, He is by man rejected,
The day is coming, when that Name we love,
Above all names is honored and exalted,
And we shall dwell with Him, in heaven above.
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a Name which is above every name: That at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-119Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9‑11)).
"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His Name" (Malachi 3:1616Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. (Malachi 3:16)).