Practical Conversations With Our Young People: Hold Fast

 •  6 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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Most young Christians are sufficiently familiar with their Bibles to know that one distinct mark of these last days in which we are living is the giving up of the truth of God. It is in keeping with such a condition as this that God gives the oft repeated warning, "Hold Fast." I believe it would be valuable to the spiritual life and experience of every young Christian to adopt those two scriptural words as his watch word in these ever increasingly evil days: "HOLD FAST!"
In the first place it is so essential that we hold fast to the truth of the inspiration of the Word of God. If you find yourself in the high school, college or university where the Bible is questioned or ignored, just look up to God for grace to be kept from it all, and stand true by the Book. "Holding fast the faithful Word as he hath been taught." (Titus 1:99Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. (Titus 1:9)). "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim. 3:14-1514But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:14‑15)). Look about you and tell me what gain has come to any young person as a result of his surrendering faith in the Scriptures? Is he any more happy in soul? Is he any more helpful in ministering comfort to his friends in their troubles? Is he any more respected in the hearts of his friends? No! I have known several who have failed to hold fast, and I know of no one of them today whom I would have cause to envy on account of what he has gained by surrendering of faith in the Word of God.
I believe it is well for the young Christian not only to hold fast the truth of the Word of God, but also when speaking of the things of God to confine himself as far as possible to the scriptural terms and expressions. One of the efforts of Satan in these last days is to induce Christians to alter the phraseology of the Bible, and to speak of these subjects of sin, hell, salvation, heaven, Savior, redemption, sanctification, piety, etc., etc., under new terms which rob these God-given concepts of much of their meaning. Let us then seek to abide by Bible terminology and not weaken the power of the inspired Word by pleasant sounding, conscience easing substitutions. Let us never get educated above our Bible phraseology. "Holding fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard." (2 Tim. 1:1313Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 1:13).)
In the second place the Christian who adopts the motto, "Hold Fast" will want to be exercised not only to hold to scriptural expressions, but also to sound scriptural doctrine. Almost every old fundamental doctrine of the Bible has been either modified beyond recognition or totally rejected by the modern so-called "advanced thinkers" and "new theology" exponents. For the young Christian to give up along these lines is fatal. If you give up Christ I see no hope for you according to the Word of God. "If ye continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which we have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven." (Col. 1:2323If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; (Colossians 1:23).)
There is one phase of "sound doctrine" that we cannot pass by without special emphasis. That is the truth as to the Church. It is only in the Church that the complete manifold wisdom of God is seen expressed. (Eph. 3:1010To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, (Ephesians 3:10): New translation.) The Church is "the pillar and ground of the truth." (1 Tim. 3:1515But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15).) Accordingly, then, if we wish to walk in the truth we must hold fast the truth as to the Church. God would not have us surrender a bit of it as not being applicable now or as being out of date. Every scriptural doctrine and direction as to the Church must be held fast at all costs.
As a third consideration we would mention the necessity of holding fast an upright course and walk before the world. If we do not maintain an honest walk before the world we will not maintain a good conscience. The apostle tells us of two men, Hymenaeus and Alexander, who failed to hold a good conscience and made shipwreck of the faith. Scripture very plainly shows us that where the life of the professing Christian is not in accord with honesty and uprightness it causes not only the individual himself to be despised, but, far sadder, it causes the unsaved to blaspheme the Name and the Word of God. (1 Tim. 6:11Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. (1 Timothy 6:1); Titus 2:55To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. (Titus 2:5).)
Is your conduct ever such that the unsaved who know you are given opportunity to say. "Well if he's a Christian, I'm sure I never want to be one. If he is a representative of the Bible, then I don't care to read it." Furthermore we must as Christians hold fast in our Christian activities. How many a young Christian started out brightly for the Lord-ever ready and anxious to speak a word to the unsaved or hand out a tract, who has failed to hold fast, and has actually drifted back into indifference as to the unsaved about him. If such is your case we trust you are saved and on the road to heaven, but in the face of many searching and solemn statements of Scripture we are made to question it. The apostle, speaking of the gospel, said: 'By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you unless ye have believed in vain. (1 Cor. 15:22By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:2).) Again he says: "So run that ye may obtain. * * * * I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection; lest that by any means, when I have preached to others I myself should be a castaway." (1 Cor. 9:2727But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (1 Corinthians 9:27).) We cannot enjoy assurance of salvation when our lives have drifted into worldliness and indifference as to the claims of God. If we want to "make our calling and election sure" there must be godliness in our walk and ways. Paul could say at the end of his course, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness." (2 Tim. 4:88Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8).)
Finally, I would exhort all young Christians to hold fast the truth as to the Lord's personal and imminent coming again. It is a fact-Jesus is coming back again! I must be ready for His return. The world steadily grows more hopeless as to its condition. War, with all its attendant horrors, continues to spread until now our own land, so long spared, is threatened with the same spirit of bloodshed. It should all make us look with longing expectancy for that heavenly shout that shall catch us away to meet the Lord Jesus in the air. Holding fast this truth in our lives will set all else right. "Behold, I come quickly, hold that fast which thou halt, that no man take thy crown." (Rev. 3:1111Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (Revelation 3:11).)