Take Hold
Take Hold of Eternal Life
“I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite,
king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it,
and contend with him in battle.”
Deuteronomy 2:24
In spiritual things there exists a substantial difference between His gifts and our possessions. There is a consistent revelation of this truth throughout the Bible. Whether it be Joshua and the Israelites needing to battle to possess the land that God had given them, or the passionate pursuit of Paul to “apprehend that for which he had been apprehended”, the essential truth is unchanged. In the Old Testament there was a physical element to possess His gifts; in the New Testament the truth of possessing His profound spiritual provisions remains the same: that of fighting “the good fight of faith”.
“Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses”
1 Timothy 6:12
“Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called”. The exhortation to “take hold” is in the now of life. Paul is beseeching Timothy to continue to fight that he might “lay hold” of this Life of Jesus in an ever-deepening way. Too few comprehend the battle required to experience the Life of Christ to which we have been called. There are depths and wonders for us to take hold of that He might be shown to the world around us.
May we be encouraged afresh to “fight the good fight”, not in the realms of carnal warfare but in the issues of our hearts. By the power of His grace let us continue to battle to subdue every unholy thought and desire to the intent that we will take hold of His Life now
All creation is groaning for this: to see people who are fully His. It requires a full and complete submission to His Holy will and an obedience which springs from the root of His love working within us.
“For the creation waits with eager longing
for the revealing of the sons of God”
Romans 8:19
His return is predicated upon a people moving in the full Life of the Son; those who through faith have “apprehended” this Life in Christ. However, there is a land to be conquered; a thought life brought into the obedience of Christ and an unruly nature made subservient to Him in all things. The call goes out to all those who are His to overcome as He overcame.
“The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Revelation 3:21-22
Fight the good fight my brothers and sisters that we may “lay hold” of this magnificent Life of Christ. He who has given us all things invites us to possess our possessions IN CHRIST.
Brian Troxel
