Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: II Thessalonians 1-3
II Thessalonians 2:15
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
Six is the number of man or more precisely the number of man’s work and life on the earth. For example, man was created on the sixth day, six of the ten commandments deal with man’s conduct with others, and six days of the week man is to work. On and on the list could go. It’s interesting then that the phrase “stand fast” is used six times in the New Testament, all by the Apostle Paul.
He encourages believers in Christ to stand fast in five areas.
I Corinthians 16:13 - stand fast in the faith.
Galatians 5:1 - stand fast in liberty.
Philippians 1:27 - stand fast in one spirit.
Philippians 4:1 and I Thessalonians 3:8 - stand fast in the Lord.
II Thessalonians 2:15 - stand fast in that which has been taught.
If the apostle was led to communicate this simple command to “stand fast” it must be possible to not “stand fast.” As the old saying goes, “To be forewarned is to be forearmed.” Every child of God would do well to examine themselves on a routine basis as to whether they are “standing fast” concerning the things of the faith.
As a boy, a cat lived in our home. His name was Georgie. From time to time, while playing with him I would hold his tail. Just hold it as he tried to escape. Usually this took place just after he scratched or hissed at me. Upon holding his tail he would begin to screech, hiss, and make the most awful noises. My mother, somewhere else in the house would call to me, “Billy, quit pulling that cat’s tail.” To which I would respond, “I’m not pulling, I’m just holding, he is doing all the pulling!” As a Bible believing Christian, as a pastor, as a student of human behavior it seems to me that increasingly those who once would be considered as those who would “stand fast” are no longer standing fast. They are fleeing.
Just like as a boy, I have been told, influenced, and pressured to quit pulling against the winds of the day. I, and those like me, are not pulling, we are simply doing all we can to “stand fast” in the faith, in liberty, in oneness, in that which we have been taught, and for the Lord. This simple-minded act of standing fast annoys those who do not, for we are like anchors of a boat, which pull the boat against the winds and tides of the day to maintain the boat in a given, safe position.
Written by Joaquin Miller in a little known poem titled “Columbus” the following excerpt paints a fine picture, does it not?
They sailed. They sailed. Then spake the mate:
“This mad sea shows his teeth tonight.
He curls his lip, he lies in wait,
With lifted teeth, as if to bite!”
“Brave Admiral, say but one good word:
What shall we do when hope is gone?”
The words leapt like a leaping sword:
Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!”
Paul said basically the same, he said it like this: “Stand fast!” Yes, six times over dear Christian, “Stand fast!”
Dr. William T. Howe
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