Hold on!

But you are to cling to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day. Joshua 23:8 NASB

I enjoy sports. I love watching pretty much any sport, but none of them drive my daily life… until summer of every year, when I get completely enthralled with American Ninja Warrior. I enjoy watching the athletes test themselves against the courses, often arriving to find newly built obstacles they had no way to prepare for. What amazes me most is their grip strength. The way they just hang by one hand casually, sometimes even stopping to interact with the crowd, as they do so, baffles me. How can they just hold on by even a fingertip with total confidence in their ability?

The past few months have been some of the toughest in my life. I have, in my life, had physical issues that were harder, emotional issues that were harder and more trying, but spiritually, 2023 has been tough for me. The details of the situation are not important, but I have learned to hang on for dear life to our Lord. He has been an absolute rock for me, and His Word has been a neverending source of strength. There have been times when I have struggled to maintain my bearing, that I have been tempted to react to things in ways that are less than Christ-like. Thankfully, I have been surrounded by people who were willing to call me out when my attitude was faltering, or to remind me that my behavior matters, that regardless of how people interpret my decisions, in the end, I will face a righteous God, and that I would have to give account to Him for my life, and no one else.

When Joshua was nearing death, he gave the Israelites a charge so that they could both remember what the Lord had done for them in the past and that He would continue to fight for them in the future. He made it clear that the support and protection of the Lord comes only when we stay close to Him by living a life that is obedient to His commands. In the 24th chapter of Joshua, there are some clear and important reminders:

First Joshua reminded them what God had done for them in the past and what He was continuing to do for them. And ye have seen all that the Lord your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the Lord your God is he that hath fought for you. (Joshua 24:3) …for the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you. (Joshua 24:10b)

And then in Joshua 24:8, he instructs them to continue to walk closely with Him: But cleave to the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day. In Joshua 24:11 He warns them to Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God.

There are both costs and benefits to serving our Lord. We have to train ourselves to come apart, to remain separate, to not join in the same sorts of activities that the average man does. If, and when we do falter, there will be consequences both natural and spiritual that come from our choices in this life.

When I think of those ninja athletes hanging confidently by one arm, I know that they are only able to do that because they’ve trained their bodies to have the strength they need to hold themselves up. And while, we as Christians need to train our minds and hearts to have the spiritual strength that we need to face the obstacles of this life. We can be thankful that we will never face anything alone. That we serve a God that understands every temptation that we face. That, by His very nature, he is faithful and true to stand beside us and uphold us with His very hand, as long as we are looking to Him. So, hold on, beloved! Hold to Him, Cling to Him, and watch Him fight for you.

The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. Exodus 14:14