Hold Tight Job is a very good example of holding on to integrity, holding on to the principles which he knew were right and good. Even after all that had befallen him he was still prepared to ‘hold fast’ his integrity, even though his wife advised otherwise, Job 1 and 2:9,10. Proverbs 4 is good advice for all sons and especially Vs. 4 for those who regard God as their father. Paul’s advice to us all is ‘Hold fast the form of sound words’ [AV] 2 Tim. 1:13. In the context of daily living in ‘a crooked and perverse generation’ he says ‘hold fast the word of life’, Phil. 2:16. Where do get these ‘sound words’? Where do we get this word of life? One of the qualities of a bishop [elder, teacher] must be to be able to ‘give instruction in sound doctrine’, and he must also hold firm that word as he was taught, Titus 1:9. While we all depend on teachers for the information that we are given we all are responsible, too, for what we accept or reject. Remember, God, the Holy Spirit, when He enters your life, will ‘guide us into the knowledge of the truth’, Jn. 16:13. As far as living in this ‘crooked and perverse generation’ is concerned we all need help and advice. That advice comes in Rom. 12:9, where, in a list of advice, Paul says ‘Hold fast what is good’. In 1Thess. 5:21,22 he goes further: He says ‘test everything; Hold fast what is good, [and by implication ‘let go the rest’] abstain from every form of evil. We need to follow the instruction in Phil. 4:8, and concentrate on what is good, right and proper. There is, however, more to Christian living than words and actions. We have a hope of final salvation. We are confident of Gods forgiveness and we have made a ‘confession’. Rom. 10.9. ‘Confession’ is simply ‘acknowledging the truth’. But if we are human at all surely we sometimes have doubts? Sadly for some, what begins with doubt ends with abandonment. This is exactly the situation in which the early believers found themselves and the letter to the Hebrews was written to them in order to outline the seriousness of the situation, [see the study on Hebrews for more about this] Throughout the letter we are advised to hold fast! Heb. 3:6, Hold fast our confidence and pride in our hope. It has been shown that Christ is far superior to the angels and he is to be honoured more as a builder of a house than the house itself. We are that house if… This is emphasized in 3:14 where we are told that we share in Christ only if we ‘hold fast’ our first confidence firm to the end. Since we have such a great high priest working on our behalf we must ‘hold fast’ our confession, 4:14. If we still have doubts remember that our salvation is 1. Promised by God and 2. On oath, then we should ‘seize’, or ‘hold fast’ that hope set before us, Heb. 6:18. If we do we won’t be disappointed, Rom. 5:5. One of the ways of demonstrating that hope is by loving other members of the body of Christ, Col. 1:3-5. It is so important to hold fast that it is again mentioned before the end of the letter to the Hebrews, 10:23. Hold fast…… without wavering. It is how we finish the race that counts. This teaching is aimed at individual believers. The bible also has a word for the church. Rev. 2:13, the church at Pergamum is commended for ‘holding fast’ the name of Christ and the faith. Rev. 2:25, the church at Thyatira is encouraged to ‘hold fast what you have’. What had they? Works, love, patience, service, endurance and progress. Rev. 3:3, the church at Sardis is advised to ‘ keep’ what they received and heard. What was that? The gospel and the teaching that went with it. Rev. 3:11, The church at Philadelphia, again hold what you have! What had they? Although they were weak they had kept the word and not denied the name of Christ. Whether it is me as an individual or me as part of the body of Christ it is vitally important that I ‘hold fast’ to the truth that God has revealed in his Word and through the Holy Spirit. We all should take very seriously the advice in Heb. 3: 12-18.