Stand Fast

KEY VERSE: “Stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught.” —II Thessalonians 2:15

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: II Thessalonians 2:1-15

WHERE do we stand? We are standing upon the sure foundation of the exceeding great and precious promises of God’s Word. No amount of fanciful or speculative reasoning can produce the heart satisfaction of a “thus saith the Lord.” (Isa. 45:1) The Greek meaning of the word tradition, is ‘that which is transmitted or passed on.’ In our text it is not referring to the traditions of men, but rather that which has been taught or passed on from the Word of God.

Surprisingly, the word stand is used many times in the Bible with reference to God’s people. As we think of the word stand it may appear to have the idea of inactivity; but in reality it represents stability, strength to resist. We stand for the righteousness and truth of God’s Word. We stand for peace, as opposed to strife. We are not to stand “in the way of sinners” (Ps. 1:1), nor in “an evil thing.” (Eccles. 8:3) We are not to stand as starry-eyed gazers into the heavens looking for the return of our Lord, for he left us specific evidences in relation to that most auspicious time.—Acts 1:11; Matt. 24

But we are to “stand in his grace” (Rom. 5:12), “stand fast in the faith” (I Cor. 16:13), “stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free” (Gal. 5:1), “stand fast in one Spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel” (Phil. 1:27), “stand fast in the Lord” (Phil. 4:1; I Thess. 3:8), and, in Ephesians 6:13, “having achieved everything, to stand,” having on “the complete armor of God” that we may be able to resist in the evil day. (Diaglott) And finally, we are to stand before our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.—Luke 21:36

We read: “The great day of his [the Lamb’s] wrath is come; and who shall he able to stand?’ (Rev. 6:17) In Psalm 24:3-5 we have the question: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord Jehovah or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart: who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord Jehovah, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.”

Ah, yes, the faith, the confidence, loyalty, steadfastness, and love of God’s people are being tried in the fiery furnace of these troublous times. How are we reacting to all the various and sundry problems and vexations of these evil days? Our standing fast in these times depends upon our feet being firmly planted upon the sure foundation of the truth of God’s Word. With an understanding of its traditions we can live above and beyond the influence about us that would tend to weaken our faith, our confidence, in the ultimate fulfillment of all God’s good promises to us and relating to the future of all the willing and obedient of humanity. The reference to the overcoming people of God of this Gospel era says, “I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou king of saints [Margin: ‘nations’, or ‘ages’]. Who shall not fear [reverence] thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? For thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.”—Rev. 15:2-4

In taking this stand for declaring the truth of God’s Word, and repelling all influences to the contrary, the Lord’s people are following the admonition of our text and standing fast (with strength) and holding firm the truth which we have been taught.

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