Holding Fast Together

We are living in a time when isolation has quietly become normal. The digital age offers us endless ways to “connect,” yet true community is often missing. We scroll, we stream, we comment, but something in us still longs for more. That longing is no accident. God designed us for fellowship, for a shared journey of faith. Hebrews 10:23-25, which begins, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering … ” reminds us that our walk with Christ is not solitary—it’s communal.

To “hold fast” is to grip tightly, with determination and without letting go. The original language paints the picture of an unrelenting grasp, like someone holding a lifeline in the middle of a storm. Life brings strong winds of discouragement, but our hope does not rest in our own strength. Our hope is in God’s unwavering faithfulness.

Holding fast isn’t just about perseverance. It’s also about how we look after each other. Hebrews tells us to consider one another, to stir up love and good works. We’re called to encourage one another. Without community, our spiritual vitality weakens. However, in fellowship, love grows and faith is strengthened.

This is why the habit of assembling matters so deeply. Hebrews 10:25 cautions us to “not forsake our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near,” (NASB77). Gathering is not simply about keeping a weekly routine. It’s about spiritual survival. Watching a livestream can bless us, but it cannot replace the richness of shared worship, prayer, smiles, hugs and encouragement. 

This is more than a preference, it’s God’s design. From the very beginning, humanity was created for relationships. In Genesis, God declared it was not good for man to be alone. Jesus Himself built His ministry around community, calling disciples to walk with Him, eat with Him and learn together. The early church gathered often, breaking bread, sharing prayers and holding one another up in both joy and hardship. The same call rings true for us today: we were never meant to do it alone.

As the final day draws nearer, this need only grows stronger. The last great crisis of faith will test every believer, and God has designed the church to be a fortress of truth and love in these last days. The church is not perfect, but it is God’s appointed agency for saving souls. It is His chosen place to build up His people for what lies ahead.

So, let’s not drift apart but draw closer to one another and to God. Let’s hold fast because He is faithful. Let’s encourage one another because love and good works grow best in fellowship. And let’s not neglect meeting together because the church is God’s place of renewal and strength.

I urge you: come to church. Stay connected. Lift up your brother. Encourage your sister. And together, let us press on faithfully, holding fast until the day when Christ returns.

By Lee-Roy Chacon

President