HOLD FAST. Hebrews 10:23 With our faith, we "Hold fast without wavering," the confession of our hope and the promise of acceptance. Because of that assurance, we can grow in faith and overcome doubts. We may deepen our fellowship with God and "Ask in faith, nothing wavering" [Jas. 1:6]. The challenge of faithfully living the Christian life is that we must give it our full effort. We are not on a casual stroll through life on our way to heaven.
Faith and hope are connected because “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith knows God’s promises are true. Hope looks at and rejoices in what faith has accepted as true. As we live with the conscious knowledge that we can draw near to God and are accepted because of the effectiveness of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we can live with confident hopefulness, without any doubts.
When we entered into the presence of God, our Christian life began. What God promised came to pass. We passed from death to life, and from the power of Satan to God. Living in the Holiest, that “now we enter in perfect peace with God,” we learn how to worship in honest humility, meekness of spirit, and according to God’s will and way. This doesn’t happen all at once. We must learn how to pray with supplication, intercession, and thanksgiving. Prevailing prayer takes time and effort.
God works within us when we continue to live by faith in Him, holding fast to the “confession of our hope.” What we expect and hope for might not come at once, or at all, because the testing of our faith is “more precious than gold.” Enlightenment, joy, and power to live an abundant life come when we focus only on God, not on what we have done or are doing. Our confession of hope grows stronger as we live consistently by faith, honoring God.
Living in this way encourages our brothers and sisters in Christ and makes our commitment to life a testimony to the reality of our faith, especially when we do not waver. When we draw near to God with unwavering hope and faith, we affirm God's faithfulness to us. That also brings us joy and peace because we believe, without reservation, in what the Holy Spirit has given us in written words.