I Hold On!

"Therefore my brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, knowing that your toil is not in vain, in the LORD." 1 Corinthians 15:58 NASB 

I seem to remember a poster that was popular a long time ago that had a kitten hanging onto a rope with a knot on the bottom of it.  I believe the caption said something like, "When you are at the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and HOLD ON!"  I was thinking about how fast things change and just pondering how life is like a fast moving river, carrying things far downstream in a fast-moving current that is relentless and never rests.  If you don't have things that you hold dear tied securely with a rope (to continue the metaphor), those things will be swept away as you watch helplessly as they drift around the bend and out of sight never to return.

What are those things that you hold onto?  What are the non-negotiables that you're not letting go of come hell or high water?  I know it might seem like a wide chasm to jump from a Bible verse to a country & western song to make my point, but amazingly, there is a country song right now that contains the things I wouldn't let go of in exactly the order I'd list them:

1. My Faith
2. Your Love (spouse, kids, family, friends)
3. Our Freedom

The song is called, "I Hold On" by Dierks Bentley.  If you have the opportunity, click on the arrow below to watch the video with the lyrics.

If you can't view the video, I've copied the lyrics below for your reading.  You might be familiar with the song.  It has a catchy tune with emotional, heartfelt lyrics.

"I Hold On" By Dierks Bentley

[Verse 1]

It's just an old beat up truck,

Some say that I should trade up

Now that I got some jangle in my pocket.

But what they don’t understand

Is it's the miles that make a man.

I wouldn't trade that thing in for a rocket.

What they don’t know is my dad and me–

We drove her out to Tennessee

And she’s still here and now he’s gone

So I hold on.

[Verse 2]

It's just an old beat up box,

Its rusty strings across the top

It probably don’t look like much to you.

But these dents and scratches in the wood,

Yeah, that’s what makes it sound so good.

To me it's better than brand new.

You see this here flat top guitar,

Has had my back in a million bars

Singing every country song

So I hold on.

[Chorus:]

To the things I believe in

My faith, your love, our freedom

To the things I can count on

To keep me going strong

Yeah, I hold on, I hold on.

Like the stripes to the flag,

Like a boy to his dad

I can't change who I am, right or wrong

So I hold on.

So how about that?  It's like poetry to me and I can really relate to what he's singing about - holding on to things that matter - things that stand the test of time.  Clinging to the things that matter.  The American experience has been underscored by innovation and change.  New things aren't bad and change isn't bad.  Oftentimes change is very good and an improvement over the old, but I think it depends on exactly what you are replacing the old with.  I think change or 'progress' needs to be measured by the totality of their consequences - both intended and unintended.

For example, we recently had our upstairs hot water heater go out after 14 years of providing nice, hot showers.  Fortunately, the pan underneath the hot water heater caught all the leaking water and directed it outside via PVC piping.  I shopped around and compared different water heaters' pricing and reviews and finally settled on what I thought was a good deal.  My Dad came and helped me remove the old heater and replace it with the new one.  New is always better right?  Nope.  The old hot water heater was well-constructed, with heavy brass fittings and lasted 14 years.  The new hot water heater had all plastic fittings and is guaranteed to last only 6 years.  Progress?  Hardly.

From a quick glance, all looks good, but when you take a closer look, you realize that what you've got is a cheap imitation.  Something you can't count on.  Something not built to last.  The new isn't all that it's cracked up to be.  And that is a pretty good illustration of what I'm pondering.  The 3 main things I hold onto: my faith, love, and freedom, are iron-clad, solid, built to last - the equivalence of brass fittings, not plastic junk that will become brittle and crack over time.

I want something that will last and so I've got to hold on TIGHTLY to my faith, your love and our freedom.  Holding on requires a certain amount of stubbornness and deliberate, purposeful resolve.  I want to be faithful in holding on to all three.

Hebrews 10:23  "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for HE is faithful that promised;)