Hold Fast

Dear Brethren,

Has Jesus Christ delayed His coming?  Years ago, when we were first called, did any of us expect that we would get to the year 2003 before Christ's return?  Why has this age gone on for so much longer than we expected?  Why have we had to see the Church dwindle down to next to nothing?  There must be a reason. What has God been accomplishing during these seventeen years - the period between Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong's death and now?

Most of us came into God's truth during the "golden age" of the Church.  We could see a Work being done.  The gospel was being preached and published in all the world.  Israelitish nations were being warned. We saw large numbers of baptisms.  We were able to meet each Sabbath with sizable congregations.  We were large enough to have established our own church culture with plenty of social events for fellowship.  We met with tens of thousands at the Feast of Tabernacles each year.

It wasn't so difficult to live our faith.  Yes, most of us had to deal with work situations, relatives and friends, who thought we were a bit crazy for joining an organization that met on Saturday and rejected their holidays - but after that we were surrounded by a lot of members of like mind and we could see the tangible results of The Work.

We didn't know it back then, but God knew there were many among us who had not put Him and His Way first.  Many were coasting or were never really with the program.  Jesus told His disciples that there would be an end-time sorting out.

"Let both the wheat and the tares grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn."  (Matthew 13:30)

Brethren, that time of testing is now.  Jesus Christ needs to test each of us individually to see whether we will hold on - "hold fast" during the tough times.  "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."  (Revelation 3:11)

Had we really proven to ourselves that the truth and doctrines we were taught were correct?  Or would we be only too willing to let go of them if we had the excuse that they were no longer valid?

Once Mr. Armstrong died, false doctrines and false ministers that had been lurking beneath the surface appeared, and most members failed to hold fast.  They failed their test.  But those of us who held fast were given additional tests - new obstacles to face.  In some cases, we joined organizations that let us down.  Many ministers who were once seemingly on track started preaching watered-down, false doctrines.  Many of those ministers behaved in an unChristian manner toward the Brethren.  Ministers arose who claimed the "mantle of authority" and sought a personal following.  Many ministers and members oppressed their fellow servants.  We certainly learned that we could not rely on others to hold us up spiritually, but had to make wise decisions as we worked out our own salvation.

"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."  (Philippians 2:12)

God needed to have hard evidence from each of us as to our faithfulness - to Him or to this present evil world.  During this difficult time for the Brethren, each of us is writing our own record that God will use when the Tribulation starts.   We all hope we will be accounted worthy to escape the Tribulation - but the scriptures show many Brethren will not have been practicing their Christianity in a sufficient manner.  "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."  (Revelation 12:17)

Those who will have to endure the Tribulation will eventually see that they had not followed Christ's example in laying down their lives for the Brethren.  They allowed themselves to drift away from God's truth.  From their own actions and decisions, it will be clear to them that THEY were at fault - they had not fulfilled their Christian duty.  God will not make an arbitrary decision to send anyone into the Tribulation - they will bring this trial upon themselves.

Brethren, in many ways, our situation today is quite similar to the latter days of the first century Ephesian era.  Many of those members left their first love and fell away thinking that Christ had "delayed His coming".  The excitement of their calling had worn off.  Brethren accepted false doctrine, sought high position in the Church and mistreated their fellow servants. The assembly they had been called into, which had been a functioning body that performed many baptisms, met in large groups, was doing a great Work, etc. declined to almost nothing.  Certain ones went over to "strange doctrines" that were gaining in popularity.  The majority wanted to be "where the action was", and so they gravitated toward the organization that eventually became the Catholic Church.

But God had expected them to hold fast.  In spite of seeing the apostles die and many of the top ministers and people leave their fellowship, the members of the Ephesian Era had to hold on.  They had to adjust their expectations and realize that Christ might not return during their lifetime.  They had to persevere during a time when persecution grew stronger and stronger and was most severe when it was exacted by those who had left their fellowship.

Sound familiar?  God expects the same diligence and perseverance from us.  We need to tighten our grip and hold fast.  We still have more spiritual battles to fight.   We were told that many would fall away, but just like those who held fast during the Ephesian Era and will be resurrected at Christ's return, let's not forget the hope of our calling.  Brethren, our Lord has not delayed His coming - let's see this Christian fight to the end.  "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."  (Luke 13:24)

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Sermon:    "Hold Fast"