HOLD FAST THE WORD OF LIFE (4)

“Test all things; HOLD FAST what is GOOD” – 1 Thessalonians 5:21

To HOLD FAST the WORD of LIFE is to hold fast to what is GOOD: “Test all things; HOLD FAST what is GOOD. Abstain from every form of evil” (1 The.5:21-22). In this final chapter of his first epistle to the Thessalonians, Paul presents various exhortations for Believers in Christ. He concluded by exhorting believers to not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, and reject every kind of evil. In this era of information overload, messages constantly bombard us. Movies, video clips, tiktoks, songs, adverts, commercials, books – they all have a message behind them. With every message we encounter, whether from a sermon, a social media post, or even a conversation with a fellow believer, we are to test all things and hold fast to that which is good – that which ministers Life!

Believers are called to be in the world but not of the world. Jesus said concerning those who believe on Him: “They are not of this world, just as I am not of the world” (Jh.17:16). This means we cannot completely isolate and insulate ourselves from the messages that surround us. Instead, we must test every message that comes our way and hold fast only to that which is good! Believers are not to accept every teaching; rather, we examine every message against Scripture to determine its validity. The apostle John affirms Paul’s admonition: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1Jh.4:1).

Like the Berean brethren, we are to test the messages we hear with God’s Word: “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). If they do not align with God’s Word, they are not of God and are therefore not good. We are to hold fast to that which is good. The Word of God is good! Hebrews 6:5 speaks of those who “have tasted the GOOD WORD of GOD, and the powers of the age to come.” The New Living Translation reads, “Who have tasted the GOODNESS of the WORD of GOD and the power of the age to come.”

To “hold fast to that which is good” means to “be diligent,” “cling to,” or “take a firm grasp of” that which is good. God’s Word is good and worthy of grasping firmly. Philippians 4:8 teaches us to keep our mind fixed on “whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy.” Believers continue holding fast to the Word of the Lord until He returns: “But HOLD FAST what you have till I come” (Rev.2:25). Proverbs 4:4 speaks of the instruction of a father: “Let your heart retain my words; keep my commands, and live” (Pro.4:4).

Holding fast to the truth of God’s Word allows us to stand firm when deception comes our way: “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown” (Rev.3:11). Those who hold fast to that which is good obey God’s Word and experience real freedom in Christ: “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jh.8: 31-32). Holding fast to the truth brings freedom from sin and produces steadfastness to run the race of life with endurance (Heb.12:1).

We who follow Jesus must be mindful of the messages that vie for our attention. As we examine everything carefully to see if it aligns with God’s Word, we can choose to hold fast to that which is good and to abstain from every form of evil. In doing this, we can be a light for Christ in this world and “shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life” (Phi.2:15-16).