“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 ESV
Rays of warm sunshine bathed our winter-pale skin as we walked hand-in-hand along the sandy beach, each step recording our path in the damp sand. The sun and the turquoise Caribbean waters echoed the clear skies above. Beautiful. Absolutely breathtaking.
We watched people playing on the beach and in the water, but it was the brave souls parasailing over the water who caught Russ’ eye. Immediately, he began scanning the beach for a parasailing outfitter. I encouraged him to go for it but told him there was no way I would go up by myself to sail over the ocean—the only way I would even possibly consider parasailing would be if we could go together. At that point, I had only seen single parasailers—so I thought I was safe.
That’s when he saw a sign down the beach advertising two-rider parasailing—I hadn’t seen that one coming! Before I knew it, I was chasing my man as he hurried toward the sign and a deeply tanned man standing by it, waving to catch the eye of anyone walking past. He saw us coming, and he grinned.
Still protesting, I was secured in a life jacket and hurried to a little motorboat that sped us away from the shore to a larger motorboat with a large steel seat attached to its backside. The seat looked like an escapee from a poorly kept city park. An enormous parachute floated in the water behind the boat. Heavy cords attached it to the steel bench.
We settled on the uncomfortable bench and looked for the harness or drop bar that would keep us secured to the bench once we were “in flight.” I saw nothing. I looked under the seat—more nothing. As I asked the helper where to find the security belt-bar-net-anything (!!), the driver started the boat’s engine. As he revved the boat’s motor, the helper shrugged his shoulders and yelled, “It’s not the Mexican way!”
The parachute quickly caught the wind and jerked us into the air, as I screamed, “I’m not Mexican!!”
I wrapped my leg around the bench leg and thrust my arm through and around its steel armrest. My other arm held onto the seat for dear life. I closed my eyes and screamed for the duration of the flight. Through my screams, I could hear my sweet man’s laughter—he was having the time of his life.
My eyes didn’t open, and the screams didn’t stop until we bounced to a stop on the water’s surface. Aching from holding on so tightly and hoarse from the non-stop screams, I was beyond thankful when we were delivered back to the sandy shore. I vowed then that I would never again sit in anything attached to a parachute.
Hold on. Like your life depends on it. Hold on.
When our pastor read 1 Timothy 6:12 in Sunday’s sermon, my mind’s video vault immediately opened the parasailing episode I’ve titled “Hold On”. There have been numerous times when I’ve held on tight for all kinds of reasons, but none like the time when I held on to a “steel park bench” attached to a parachute, sailing above the waters of the Caribbean Sea.
“Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called.” 1 Timothy 6:12b
I think that’s the sort of “hold on” that Paul had in mind when he was instructing his spiritual son, Timothy. Hold on, Timothy!
The Greek phrase translated “take hold” is also translated “lay hold” and “hold tightly” – in other words, grab hold and don’t let go. Never turn loose. And never lose sight of what it means and the obligation that is yours because of it. “It” is eternal life.
Paul told Timothy that the eternal life to which he had been called was a gift to be held onto with a firm grip. In the context of that verse, Paul emphasized our responsibility to handle that gift well and not lose sight of what we have been given.
Paul warned and encouraged Timothy not to chase after worldly gain, but to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness. Be always ready to fight the good fight of faith. Cherish the gift of eternal life you’ve received. Live in obedience and live “free from reproach,” so that your life may be a testimony of what God through Christ Jesus has done for you and in you. Hold fast! (from 1 Timothy 6:11-14)
Hold on. Eyes Open.
Unlike my eyes, which were squeezed tightly shut during the entire parasailing episode, Paul told Timothy, the young pastor, to keep his eyes open and focused so he could effectively pursue all that it meant to have eternal life. Run after those godly characteristics that equip and strengthen you for the battles ahead. Chase after what is good.
Those godly characteristics equip us for battle, and they allow us to see and experience the beauty of life in Christ Jesus.
Russ had held on tightly to the steel bench as it glided through the cloudless sky over the turquoise waters. Eyes wide open, he enjoyed every minute of the ride. He saw God’s beautifully amazing creation from a unique vantage point. He was in awe of the entire experience – the experience I missed completely.
Not because I wasn’t there—oh, I was there alright. Clutching the bench, eyes squeezed tightly closed, screaming like a banshee, and missing everything beautiful about the experience. I got the “hold tight” part right but missed the purpose and beauty of the experience.
Don’t miss out on all that God has for you either because you’re not holding tightly to the gift of eternal life that you’ve received through Jesus OR because you’re holding on so tightly, so afraid, eyes closed tight, and not trusting God to hold on to you.
Instead. Hold tight, eyes open, pursue all that is yours because of Jesus’ gift of salvation.
Set [your] hope… on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. [You] are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for [yourselves] as a good foundation for the future, so that [you] may take hold of that which is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 ESV
Friend, are you holding on?
How are you holding on – eyes open or closed?