From the moment we are born, seems we are holding on for dear life to someone or something or both to get what we need and to get what we want. We hold on for dear life to our mothers, to their breasts for milk, to loving hands, to a big hug, to being cradled in safe arms, to a baby blanket, to a toy, and over time as we grow to more someone’s and more somethings. Ever to satisfy our needs and desires. We are clingers and cleavers by nature. And this can be a really good thing or it can be dangerous and ultimately deadly.
Seems there is more suffering in America and around the world than ever before, the world’s woes are endless, the world will ultimately be gone, so many are hurting and hopeless, evil is rampant, according to the Bible we may well be in what is called “the beginning of sorrows” ultimately leading up to the end of this world, and more people than imaginable are absolutely desperate to find something or someone or both to hold onto for dear life.
The one we were created to hold onto for dear life is the Lord Jesus Christ. To God almighty. We were created to love, honor, serve, obey, honor, praise, worship, experience, enjoy, live for, and glorify Him forever. Yet countless people are holding on for dear life to anything and everything but God for love, comfort, wisdom, peace, joy, fellowship, and hope.
When we turn from our sins, believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and that He died to pay our sin penalty and was raised from the dead, and genuinely turn our lives over to God and His ways and His will for us, we are given a relationship with the Lord now on earth and forever in heaven where there will be no suffering and evil not ever. God will help us, guide us, and comfort and encourage us through the sufferings in this life and prepare us to spend forever with Him where not an ounce of hurt and hardship will ever exist.
Jesus Christ and a relationship with Him is the only way to heaven, and He is the only guaranteed source of perfect unfailing love and hope and peace and joy and comfort and goodness and companionship and lordship and wisdom in this life.
Please hold on for dear life – to Jesus. Be totally devoted to Him now and forevermore. Cling and cleave to Jesus. And never let go! Amen!
What does holding on for dear life to Jesus look like in practical terms? Be totally surrendered to God! Read the Bible! Live by it! When you receive Jesus Christ as Lord, God fills you with His Holy Spirit! Ask God for fresh fillings of His Spirit! Be filled with and led by His Spirit! Cry out to God! Pray to God continually! Seek God! Spend time with God! Praise and worship God! Live for God! Commune with God! Hear God! Abide in Jesus! Trust in Him! Look to Him! Hope in Him! Make Him and keep Him as your #1 love! Hallelujah! Glory be to the Lord! Amen!
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NKJV
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in [some Bible versions say “to”]us.” Romans 8:18 NKJV
“And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 24:4-13 NKJV
“One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.” Psalms 27:4 NKJV
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NKJV