Revelation: The Church of Thyatira … Hold Fast | April 21, 2023

 This past spring I watched a Final Four basketball game with my son that was so close. In the last second or two, a player threw the ball toward the basket while the timer buzzed. As it swished into the net and his team won by a single point, the crowd went nuts. It was an amazing game not only for the team who won but for the fans who cheered them on until the very end.

I feel this same excitement as Jesus cheers on the Thyatiran church in the toughest game of their life. They are exhausted, pushing through every wall, hanging on by a thread as they put into practice every skill they have. It would be so easy to give up right here at the end. To give into the temptations of Satan and follow his teachings instead of God’s. They are so close to the end, but they aren’t there yet.

Revelation 2:24-25 ESV

²⁴ But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. ²⁵ Only hold fast what you have until I come. 

 I love the way the NLT says it:

²⁴ “But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (‘deeper truths,’ as they call them—depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you ²⁵ except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come. 

 Hold fast! Hold tightly! Hold on, Christian! Jesus is coming. We cannot give up! As things get harder and days get darker, we find ourselves exhausted in the fight, worn down and out by the pain we experience, longing for relief, for even just a little bit of relief from our trials, hard times, or even just the day to day troubles that drip. drip. drip. 

To those of us who do not follow the false teachings of the enemy, hang on. Stay the course and don’t give in to the temptations. God’s Word repeatedly tells us not to give up. 

Deuteronomy 10:20-21 ESV

²⁰ You shall fear the Lord your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear. ²¹ He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen.

 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 ESV

¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise prophecies, ²¹ but test everything; hold fast what is good. ²² Abstain from every form of evil.

Hebrews 10:23-25 ESV

²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

 Lord thank You for our community of believers to do this life with so that in Your power we can encourage and strengthen each other to never give up. We are so close! You are so close. Thank You for your love and faithfulness. May it sustain us as we hold fast to You as we see the Day of your return approaching.