Stand Firm

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men,

be strong."

1 Corinthians 16:13

     

      The last days are here.  They have been here but we are in the last of the last days, I believe.  The Lord Jesus Christ will soon return.  Are you ready?  One reads the daily headlines and there is nothing but misery, hate, and dissension.  It is rare to see an uplifting story in the news these days.  It is easy to get bogged down by the negativity that is permeating our society in this present age.  People deny there is a God.  People shake their fists in the face of God and scream obscenities.  People show vitriol for anyone with a differing opinion on anything.  Common decency is gone.  Common sense went with it.  Even some Christians compromise their beliefs when pushed against a wall. Satan is running amok in our world and having the time of his life. 

       BUT...we as Christians must be watchful.  We must stand firm in the faith.  We must be strong.   Moses told the people of Israel in Exodus 14:13, " Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today.".  Moses is talking about the Egyptians who were in hot pursuit and the Israelites are standing at the bank of the Red Sea grumbling, again, about why they left Egypt in the first place.  Moses is standing in front of them and is saying, FEAR NOT, haven't you already seen the hand of God at work in saving you from Egypt.  Haven't you seen that God is working to get you out of here and to the Promised Land?  Stop standing around grumbling and stand firm!  Stand knowing that He is going to save you.  Stand firm knowing He is going to see everything going on in your life.  Stand firm knowing He will answer when you call. Stand firm knowing He has your back.  Stand firm in the faith. 

       We are called to stand firm.  We are called to be sober-minded; Be watchful.  Because our adversary, the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:12) We need to always be alert.  Jesus told his disciples in the garden to keep watch while He went to pray.  He told them to be alert.  But they did as we do, we get comfortable.  We fall asleep.  We become lazy and we are not alert.  It is when we are not alert or watchful that we stumble and fall into the traps the devil has set for us.  He wants us to be lazy.  He doesn't want us to be strong and standing firm. The devil knows that if we are strong and firm in our faith, he can not get to us as easily.   This is why standing firm is mentioned many times in the Bible.  

        Friends, stand firm in your faith.  Know that the Lord is with you and fear not.  Be watchful for the adversary who wants to devour anyone that is not alert to his tactics.  Be strong.  There is nothing that is impossible with God.  God is able and He will be there.  He has already won.  So have we, if we are watchful, standing firm and strong in our faith.

"stand firm in it."

1 Peter 5:12