Freed to Grow

KEY VERSE: “After that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?” —Galatians 4:9

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Galatians 4:8-20

THE APOSTLE’S CONCERN for the Galatian brethren was that they were letting slip some of the aspects of truth which separated them from their former allegiance to the Jewish Law and its relationship to the carnal interests of this world. They were ‘desiring again to be in their former bondage’, not holding fast to the truth.

Many admonitions are given in the Bible to encourage continued zeal and patient endurance on the part of the Lord’s dedicated people. Our ‘first love’ enthusiasm needs to be maintained, not for a few months or years, but to the end of the way of sacrifice. It is only those who endure unto the end, and are faithful even unto death, who receive the crown of life and live and reign with Christ a thousand years.—Rev. 2:10; 20:6

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” (Heb. 2:1) This text indicates that ‘holding fast’ consists in not letting slip the things which we have heard. It is the truth that is referred to, and the purpose of the truth is to guide us in the knowing and doing of God’s will. Only through the Word of truth do we know what our Heavenly Father wants us to do and to be. Therefore, to let the truth ‘slip’, would be like a builder neglecting his blueprints. He might continue to build, but he could not be sure that the building erected would be in harmony with the architect’s plans.

The things which we have ‘heard’ are of vital importance because of the source from which they have reached us. That source is mentioned in the very first word of the epistle to the Hebrews: “God.” Paul reminds us that God had previously spoken to his people through his holy prophets, and that now he had spoken through his Son.—Heb. 1:1,2

And what a high position of authority the Heavenly Father had given to his Son! He had appointed him “heir of all things,” exalted him to the “express image” of his own person, and seated him “at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Jesus had been made “better than the angels,” and had “by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Because he had “loved righteousness and hated iniquity,” God had anointed him “with the oil of gladness above his fellows.”—Heb. 1:3-9

It is through this divinely authorized channel that our Heavenly Father spoke to his called-out ones at the beginning of the Gospel Age, and has continued thus to speak throughout the age. In a very special sense this is true at the present time, when the Son is again present, serving his followers with “meat in due season,” for this is what he promised to do when he returned.—Luke 12:37; Rev. 3:20

“Therefore,” as Paul said, it is important that we take earnest heed to “the things which we have heard,” for they have not reached us through any ordinary channel, but from the glorified Jesus, who has been exalted to the right hand of God. This means that every aspect of the divine plan is of vital concern to each dedicated follower of the Master. To let any part of the truth slip through lack of interest or zeal would be as though we refused him who has spoken to us.—Heb. 12:25

Are the links in our chain of faith strong and well forged together? Is our faith securely anchored to that glorious hope within the veil? If, for any reason, we are letting slip the things which we have heard from our Heavenly Father’s spokesman, our present Lord Jesus Christ, our rejoicing in hope will be diminishing and suffering with and for Christ will become a burden to slacken our pace in the narrow way.—Rom. 12:12

Let us, then, “Hold fast the profession of our hope, that it waver not.” (Heb. 10:23, RSV) We know that God has been faithful to his people in every age, and that now he will give us strength for our every time of need. Through his beloved Son he has fed us with ‘meat in due season’, and in this glorious feast of truth we have rejoiced and will continue to be glad. This is particularly true as the signs of the Master’s presence become more and more apparent with each passing day.

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