“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession” (Hebrews 4:14).
When we became Christians, we made similar confessions as did Peter, who when asked whom he thought Jesus was said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16; cf. Romans 10:9-10). As Christians it is a daily challenge to continue to hold fast to this “good confession”.
God’s people have always struggled to remain faithful to Him. This is because Satan continues to seek to devour us (1 Peter 5:8). The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life are things which we must continue to put to death in our members (cf. 1 John 2:15-17; Romans 6:1-13). As the history of God’s people, who left the bondage of Egypt only to fall in the wilderness because of their unfaithfulness, shows, it is challenging to hold fast to our confession (cf. Hebrews 3:17-19).
What has God done for us to help us to “hold fast” our confession? First, He has given us His Word to guide us (Psalm 119:105).. After writing that we should be diligent to enter into the rest which God has provided, the writer of the book of Hebrews states, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
However, for God’s Word to impact our lives there is a major role we have to play. We have to place our faith in God’s Word to guide us! Regarding ancient Israel’s unfaithfulness to God, the Hebrew writer mentions that a major reason they were unfaithful to God was because they failed to believe God’s Word. He writes, “For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it” (Hebrews 4:2).
In addition, in order to help us “hold fast” our confession, God has given us His Son as our High Priest. In the Old Testament period, the High Priest would make sacrifices to God for the sins of the people (Hebrews 5:1). In this role the High Priest stood between God and the people whom he represented and could relate to with compassion because he understood their sins and weaknesses (Hebrews 5:2). As the opening verses above indicate, the Hebrew writer lists that we should hold fast our confession because Jesus is our High Priest in heaven (Hebrews 4:14).
Why should having Jesus as our High Priest encourage us to “hold fast” our confession? First, He paid the price for our sins by sacrificing Himself (Hebrews 7:27-28). Second, though He was God in the flesh (John 1:1, 14), as our High Priest Jesus can fully relate to our weaknesses. The Hebrew writer says, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). He has compassion on us when we fail (Hebrews 5:2). Finally, He provides aid to us as He continually intercedes on our behalf to God (Hebrews 2:18; 7:25). We should be greatly encouraged knowing that Jesus is on our side urging us to continue pressing on to the Heavenly goal where He is at God’s right hand (Hebrews 1:13; 10:12).
I acknowledge that holding fast to my confession is not easy. It is challenging as Satan and the world constantly seek to discourage me. However, today I rejoice that God is trying to help me as He has given me His Word, in which I choose to believe, to guide Me and His Son, who acts as my High Priest who died for me, and continues to encourage me even with my weaknesses and my failures!
“…Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).