“Your eyes have seen what the LORD has done in the case of Baal-peor, for all the men who followed Baal-peor, the LORD your God has destroyed them from among you. But you who held fast to the LORD your God are alive today, every one of you."--Deuteronomy 4:3-4. Moses reiterating to Israel what happened back in Numbers 25:1-9. They witnessed the consequences that were endured as a result of their fellow countrymen going off into idolatry. However, as stated in the passage, because the others remained strong they remained alive. They remained alive because they chose to hold fast.
Hold fast. According to one definition that I found, this term to hold fast means to cleave to. Similar language is found in Genesis 2:24-25 when the Bible speaks of the marriage relationship. Proverbs 18:24 would translate this word as "sticks closer." Here in Deuteronomy, the people remained alive because they held fast or cleaved to God. They stuck closer to God.
Stick closer. Earlier this year, I went on a hike with a friend of mine. It was my first time on that particular trail. However, he had hiked that trail several times before. Because he knew the trail better than I did and because the trail was still covered with snow, I held fast or stuck closer to my friend. Had I chosen to go a different direction, I probably would have had trouble finding my way back and worse case scenario, I could have put myself in some kind of danger.
When it comes to life, quite frankly and as much as we might try to deny it, God knows the trail of life much MUCH better than we do. He knows where every path, good or bad, will lead but leaves it up to us to choose which path we follow. There are many paths but we know from Matthew 7:13 that only one narrow way leads to eternal life but it is the broad path or trail that leads to destruction. Since the trail is narrow that leads to life, it is easy to slip off of and this is why it is crucial that we hold fast and stick closer to God as He knows the trail better than we do.
The passage says this group of Israelites is alive because they held fast. They stuck closer to God. However, the others were destroyed. It saddens me to see the stark contrast between those in the Lord's church who have stuck closer to God and those who have gotten off the trail and are caught up in a life devoid of God's guidance. As we look around the world and maybe even within our own family, we can see the consequences of what a life without God can do to a person, a society and a nation. Proverbs 14:34 tells us righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a disgrace to any people. On the other hand, I have seen how blessed so many people are simply for sticking closer and holding fast to God. Their life is not without problems but their perspective is so much better and they are of a much more joyful attitude.
Stick closer. So my encouragement to you is this. Remember that God knows the trail of life better than we do. He knows what is on the trail and if we stick closer and hold fast to Him we will enjoy life in this life and in the life to come. So if you have gotten off the trail that leads to life, it is not too late to get back on. Or maybe you have never been on the trail that leads to life. The trail head is Christ and to get on the trail, we must obey the gospel. Don't be afraid of this new and narrow trail. Quite frankly, it excites me when I go hiking on a trail I have never been on before. And the narrow and challenging ones are the most rewarding and exciting. The same is true of the narrow trail that leads to eternal life. It is rewarding and exciting and well worth the hike when you hold fast and stick closer to God. So if you are a Christian, encourage your brethren to stay on the trail and follow Christ.
DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! PRAY ABOUT IT! LOVE Y'ALL! GOD BLESS!
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