THE REFUGE
What a marvelous exhortation we find hidden in the latter part of the book of Hebrews for everyone who has been called into the Christian faith—an exhortation commanding us to step onto the battlefield while keeping a sober mind, holding fast to our confession of Jesus Christ without wavering. This implies that every believer will suffer difficulties and must be prepared to engage in a great struggle. The Apostle Peter tells us in his inspired letter, “Prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Come now Christians, let not the tyranny of your sin rival the majestic word of the Lord, but be unmovable in His word, abounding in the principles of God’s holy commandments.
The Lord also engaged in a mighty battle after His public ministry began. The scriptures tell us He was immediately led into the wilderness and it was there that the enemy tempted him for 40 days. Jesus engaged in holy combat against the devil—the one whom he saw fall from heaven, the great deceiver of all humankind. The Lord Jesus would wield the sword of truth, quoting the verses the Spirit of The Lord breathed out through Moses in the book of Deuteronomy. He would not yield for one moment to the devil’s temptations. Remember, in every great struggle, to gain the victory, we must have a fixed hope marked out for us in Christ Jesus. Apollyon that serpent of old, the one who deceived Eve in the garden, will not rest until he has fired every fiery evil dart of immorality, impurity, passions, evil desires, and greed into your shield of faith. Every believer must pass through vanity fair and contend with the devilish desires that are tucked away in their hearts.
Do not be a fearful Christian soldier, for you have been commanded and called into battle by the commander of heaven’s army, Jesus Christ the Lord. He goes before all who believe in Him and leads them in the way of righteousness as a great Shepard. He took on flesh becoming exactly like you and me, and yet without sin. He fulfilled all the requirements of God’s holy Commandments and became to all who believe, the perfect sacrifice, making atonement for sin. He defeated Satan, hell, and death when he hung on the cross giving up his life; on the third day the grave opened up, and he was raised from the dead. He led a host of captives to freedom. He ascended to the right hand of God where He to this day makes daily intercession for His beloved. As James, the servant of The Lord encouraged his generation, so I do the same for you, “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.”
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 NASBS