A few years ago, on Christmas Eve, my mother-in-law fell and broke her wrist. The doctors in the hospital where we took her told us they had treated 200 broken bones in just the past week. The reason was a storm that had covered the area with a slippery blanket of ice. As difficult as it is to stand when ice is on the ground, it is even more difficult to stand spiritually in this fallen world today. The Bible encourages us to take a stand and I would like to share four areas in which that stand is mentioned in Hebrews.

STAND FAST ON GOD’S WORD
(Heb 2:1) “give earnest heed to things we have heard”

The world ignores, mocks, ridicules, and tries to explain away God’s word. They say it’s not relevant, it’s ancient, it’s filled with error. The child of God knows better. God’s word is a lamp to his feet and a light to his path. Heaven and earth will pass away, but not the word of God. The text says give ‘earnest heed’, that is pay close attention to what the Bible says. God has provided His guidelines for abundant life. We need to study the word, meditate on the word, live by the word and share the word with others. The Psalm writer gives good advice in Psalm 119:11 “Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee.”

The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. We can think of all kinds of reasons to do the things God tells us we are not to do. This verse says beware of a heart of unbelief. It is God’s will that we live a life of close fellowship with Him, walking in the light as He is in the light and enjoying His presence. Some refuse God’s will because they don’t want to give up their sinful habits. Others refuse because they don’t want God’s authority getting in the way of doing their own thing. Submit yourself to God and let Him show you His blessings. Away with any excuse not to do what God says He wants in our lives.

Sometimes I hear of those who say they are Christians but don’t attend a church. They can’t find one that is good enough for them. Christians are not Lone Rangers. We are to live in close fellowship with other believers. Fellowship is important because we can pray for one another, encourage one another, strengthen one another and help one another. If you do not have a church home, you need one. (Heb 10:25) “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.” It is the collective body of believers that is needed today to fight the evil one. The world is doing it’s best to overcome the testimony of Christ. Thanks be to God that He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world.

STAND FAST ON GOD’S PROMISES
(Heb 4:1) “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.”

Here the writer of Hebrews mentions one of the promises of God. Specifically the promise of rest. It is a reminder to all of us to trust in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. To rest in the salvation He procured for us by dying to pay the penalty for our sin and giving forgiveness of sin to all who trust in His finished work. His resurrection is proof of believer’s sins being forgiven. (Rom 4:25) “Who (Jesus) was delivered because of our offences and was raised because of our justifcation.(NKJV)” To justify means to declare righteous. But, let’s not stop there, it says in (2 Cor 1:20) “For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” In the Lord Jesus Christ, all the promises of God find their fulfillment. Stand fast on those promises and claim them as your own.

Not exactly known for her commitment to Christ, Dolly Parton did make a good statement about perseverance. She came from a poor Appalachian family. When asked why she became successful when so many other poor mountain people did not, she replied: "I never stopped trying. And I never tried stopping." Let’s follow that advice. Stand fast on the truth of God and let the truth of God stand fast in you. God bless.