A cowboy friend of mine who grew up on a ranch in Texas has a number of colorful sayings. One of my favorites is âIt donât take much water to make good coffee.â And when someone ropes a steer too big to handle or is in some kind of trouble, my friend will shout, âHold everything youâve got!â meaning âHelp is on the way! Donât let go!â
In the book of Revelation we find letters to âthe seven churches in the province of Asiaâ (chs. 2â3). These messages from God are filled with encouragement, rebuke, and challenge, and they speak to us today just as they did to the first-century recipients.
Twice in these letters we find the phrase, âHold on to what you have.â The Lord told the church at Thyatira, âHold on to what you have until I comeâ (2:25). And to the church in Philadelphia He said, âI am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crownâ (3:11). In the midst of great trials and opposition, these believers clung to Godâs promises and persevered in faith.
When our circumstances are harsh and sorrows outnumber joys, Jesus shouts to us, âHold everything youâve got! Help is on the way!â And with that promise, we can hold on in faith and rejoice.
The detailed description of Jesus in Revelation 1 underscores the authority by which the letters to the seven churches in chapters 2â3 were written and the certainty of their contents. They contain evaluations, warnings, and promisesâalternately praising or condemning the churches for their faith or lack of it.