FAITH THAT HOLDS FAST (3)

“For HE HELD FAST to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but keep His commandments...” – 2 Kings 18:6

King Hezekiah is an Old Testament Model of the FAITH that HOLDS FAST to God’s Word: “He trusted in the Lor God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him. For HE HELD FAST to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but keep His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses” (2 Kings 18: 5-6). Scanning through Scriptures, some individuals stand out, either for holding fast to God and His Word or for failing to do so! Besides well-known personalities such as Noah who held fast to God’s instructions for the Ark’s construction and survival through the flood, and David who held fast to the Word of Faith to cut down Goliath and secure Victory for Israel, one rarely explored personality was King Hezekiah.

Hezekiah’s account is not one that automatically jumps to mind as being notable or remarkable. Yet, Scripture reveals impressive truths about him. Hezekiah knew about holding fast to God and His Word, and his reign enjoyed the rewards thereof: “The Lord was with him; he prospered wherever he went. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. He subdued the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city” (vv.7-8). Hezekiah was one of a kind among the kings of Israel “for he held fast to the Lord.”  Among all the kings, godly and ungodly, he was singled out for this lifestyle, and illustrates what it means to Hold fast.

We may ask ourselves: What does it mean to hold fast? Am I holding fast to the Lord? We may also wonder: How do we hold fast to Someone we cannot see or touch physically? The fact is: God is more real than the very air we breathe! Some synonyms for “hold fast” are: adhere to, carry out, embrace, and live by. “Holding fast” in the Bible literally means to hold one’s position, or fix one’s gaze and not lose sight of. This means that our attention – and therefore our actions – are fixed on God. To hold fast to God and His Word implies:

Trusting the God of Israel: Trusting God is tough. He asks for some pretty big things from those who follow Him. Abraham was asked to sacrifice Isaac. David faced and defeated a giant with a handful of pebbles. Peter walked on water. Paul was shipwrecked. God’s own Son hung on a cross. We must trust that wherever God leads us, His love and grace will be enough. It might be hard and even downright painful, but it will be worth it. Holding fast starts with trust; then we need to obey His instructions, our gaze and hearts locked on God.

Being anchored: To hold fast means to be tightly secured or anchored to something. Are we anchored to the Lord? If so, the storms of life might toss us to and fro a bit, but we don’t wander from His side when they do. If we’re tightly secured to God, the world may get our attention but it cannot woo us from His hold. It means while we might be tempted, we hold fast and don’t give in.

Staying in the Word: “but keep His commandments.” We need to READ the Word, and then DO the Word!” Hezekiah did so. He upheld the Law of God. And because of it he was blessed, and the nation of Israel was blessed under his rule. Wherever Hezekiah went out, he prospered because God was with him. Moreover, he would not serve the king of Assyria. He would worship God only, and not bow to an earthly authority that threatened him. For us, today, this means that we need to make sure we don’t have other idols that rule our affections. And, we get to enjoy the benefits of holding fast to God. Whenever He sends us out and we follow Him, He will prosper us.