"Hold On to Your Faith"

The word Jesus used was exete, which means "hold on to." When He said, "Exete faith in God,." His disciples understood Him to mean, "Hold on to your faith in God."

We are often tempted to let go our faith and to doubt, just as we are tempted in other directions. Sometimes this temptation arises from intellectual perplexities. But perhaps more often it arises from experiences that perplex and bewilder us. Trouble or sorrow comes; we are puzzled, and wonder why it should be so; doubt assails us, our faith is shaken, and we are tempted to give up altogether our belief in God and religion.

Let us not think it strange when we are so tempted. We should regard it as we regard any other temptation. We should resist it, just as we resist temptation to commit positive evil. That we are so tempted is no more strange than any of the other common temptations of life.

"Hold on to your faith," You would not let the demon of vice rob you of your virtue. You would not suffer the demon of covetousness to rob you of your honor. Be just as determined not to allow the demon of doubt to rob you of your faith. Guard your faith just as jealously as you guard your virtue and honor.

You will have your trials and disappointments, just as everybody else. But when these come, and when fears and doubts assail you, stick to your faith. Do that, and you may be sure God will stick to you. God does not promise that your ways shall always be along a sunlit road, that you shall never walk the dark ways of life; but He does promise this; "My presence shall go with thee."

"In the world ye shall have tribulation." There is no escape from that. But "faith is the victory that overcomes the world"--and the only victory that overcomes the world. All along there are world forces operating against us which only faith can master and overcome. Ultimately the world removes from us all the outward things upon which we build our lives, when all that is left to us is our faith in God and the hope built on that faith. Therefore, though a thousand tragedies befall you, whatever sorrows or losses you may suffer--hold on to your faith in God.

"Have faith in God." Mark 11:22.