HOLD FAST WITHOUT WAVERING

Hebrews 10:23-27 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

That which sustains every Christian, is the hope of eternal salvation in heaven. It is the possibility, as a child of God, to inherit a home in heaven, and there live with our brother, Jesus Christ, that serves as the inspiration to every Christian to never give up on the attainment of this hope. Although we have not seen heaven, it has been described in terms, we, as human beings, can understand. We know that heaven is the dwelling place of God, His Son, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and angels. We know that in heaven there is no death, ...sorrow, ...crying, (or) ... pain (Rev. 21:4), and there shall be no night there ...forever and ever (Rev 22:5). What the saved will find in heaven is rest from their labors (Rev. 14:13), righteousness (2 Pet. 3:13), great ...reward (Matt. 5:12), an inheritance (that is) incorruptible (1 Pet. 1:4), and glory (Rom. 8:18). Heaven is a place that all Christians are earnestly desiring (to go) (2 Cor. 5:2), looking for and hasting unto (2 Pet. 3:12), and a place where they will place their treasure (and) ...heart (Luke 12:34). Eternal life of their resurrected body is the object of hope to all obedient Christians. It is the hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began (Titus 1:2).

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Since God is faithful that promised this great reward, let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering. How does one faithfully persevere Christian duties and responsibilities without doubt or indecision? The writer gives us a few ways in the following verses in the lesson text. Christians are to consider one another with an unselfish love for the physical and spiritual welfare of all. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves (Phil. 2:3-4). In doing so, Christians are to persuade and urge each other unto love, and to good works, not only with encouraging words, but also by godly examples.

What a great example it is when Christians forsake not the assembling of ourselves together. Whether the call to assemble is for the study of the word of God, to participate in prayer service, to admonish each other in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, or, on the first day of the week, to worship God as He commands, all Christian assemblies are for the mutual edification of one another. Assemblies serve to encourage fellow Christians to better, and more complete, service to God and the cause of Jesus Christ. Forsaking such assemblies is the first step of apostasy - falling away, backsliding, and becoming disloyal in service to our heavenly Father. The manner of some had already proved this to be the terrible result. As we look around our Christian society today, it is evident that when willful failure to assemble together exists, the exhortation of one another is lacking, knowledge, faith, and zeal wanes, and the cause of Christ suffers.

Whether "the day approaching" referred to was the impending day the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman armies began, the day of one's life on earth, or the Day of Judgment, is not specifically given. However, whatever the day refers to, it is certainly a day when Christians should never be found away from a completely reconciled state with the Author of our salvation - our heavenly Father. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. If a Christian abandons God's plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, and fails to penitently return into His fold, there is no other sacrifice that can be made whereby salvation can be attained. A Christian, in this state, can only look forward to the fearful assurance of God's judgment through the righteous Judge, Jesus Christ, and with it the fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

When one abandons God, fails to keep His commandments, and rejects Jesus Christ as the Savior, they, by their own actions, cut themselves off from the hope of eternal salvation. By rejecting His grace, one can only look forward to God's wrath. Therefore, Christian, hold fast to your faith in God through Jesus Christ and waver not.