The Bible is full of admonitions to hold the line and one of the best known is 1st Corinthians 15:58.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV) — 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
The call is to be steadfast and immovable which is based upon the truth of the resurrection and the Lord Jesus Christ conquering death. Truth calls us to do something – not just acknowledge it and walk on. Truth makes a difference. Knowing the truth and the source of all truth is important and so is being steadfast in the truth in order to enjoy the benefits.
John 8:31–32 (ESV) — 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Jesus said the truth would set us free and if we are set free, we can’t just exist or never confess what set us free or be changed by the truth that set us free. One of those changes is we go from flip flopping to being sure or steadfast, and ready to defend what we believe, including the instruction to be part of a local church where we are involved in helping others be steadfast in the truth so they are not tossed this way and that by everything that comes along.
Ephesians 4:11–16 (ESV) — 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
One of the blessings of the church is that we are members one of another and have the responsibility of being equipped by the leaders of the church to perform the work of ministry to the body. This work results in helping people turn from being tossed about by every wind of doctrine to being grounded in the truth. We are naturally tossed about and need to be settled in the truth so we can endure the temptation to become wishy-washy and miss out in life.
How then can we be steadfast and immovable? It takes wisdom from God and grace with discipline to apply that wisdom daily. God requires us to seek after Him, assuring us that He is faithful and whatever He does or ordains is perfect. Therefore, we have no reason to be anything other than steadfast in our commitment to Him.
James 1:5–8 (ESV) — 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) — 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Deuteronomy 32:3–4 (ESV) — 3 For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God! 4 “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.
Matthew 7:24–27 (ESV) — 24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
When we take a stand then back off, we become unstable and God says it gets us nowhere in enjoying His blessings in life. When you think of it, if God is The Rock and His truth is a solid foundation, then any lack of steadfastness is turning from Him.
This is especially important today when people are lacking the backbone to stand for anything, hence they fall for everything. People are criticized for being too strict or intolerant when they take a stand. It’s time to heed the cry of the apostle Paul to be steadfast and immovable.
How?
Continue in the Word, search the Scriptures and seek the truth from God.
Apply the truth by doing whatever God says to do. 1Corinthians 15:58 says to be “always abounding in the work of the Lord” which indicates being sold out to God. If we are sold out to Him and His truth, we will be steadfast and immoveable which results in being truly connected by faith, not wavering, which means we can be confident when we pray. It all comes together around Him.
Are you steadfast and immoveable in what you believe or are you tossed about by everything that comes along? Enjoying God’s best comes from holding fast to Him and the truth no matter who or what comes along to try to influence us.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
