Articles
Take Hold
How tightly would you take hold?
The temple meant more to a Jew than can be properly expressed. It was the physical representation of God’s presence. It had housed the crucially important ark of the covenant. As long as the temple stood, the nation of Israel had hope against any enemy. If God was with them, who could stand against them? To this day, the Jews gather at the empty foundation where the temple once proudly stood, and they weep. They cram pieces of paper with personal prayers into the cracks, striving to get their greatest concerns into the presence of God.
Can you imagine how zealously the Jews would defend the sanctity of their temple? That was what was at stake when one day in the first century a voice rose up accusing a man of bringing filthy Gentiles into the temple. This was an attack on their religion and everything they held sacred. Sure, Paul hadn’t actually brought a Gentile into the temple, but the crowd didn’t know that.
The whole city was provoked. “The people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut” (Acts 21:30). Can you picture that moment? Given the accusation and the importance of the temple to the Jews, how tightly do you think they were holding on to Paul? Do you think he could flex a muscle and break free or squirm a little and slip out of their grasp? I seriously doubt it. They had a literal death grip on him. Only Roman soldiers were able to wrestle Paul away from their grip and intentions.
The same Greek word is used to describe the way Jesus took hold of Peter. This was on the occasion where Peter stepped out of a boat and walked on the water briefly. Then he became distracted by the wind and waves. He started to sink and was in danger of drowning. “Lord, save me!” he cried, clearly in a panic (Mt. 14:30). How hard do you have to grab hold of a wet drowning person to pull them out of the water? It takes a firm grip, don’t you agree?
It is this same Greek word that is used by Paul when he urges Timothy (and us) to “take hold of the eternal life to which you were called” (I Tim. 6:11). Paul uses the same word again when he urges the rich Christians to “take hold of that which is life indeed” (I Tim. 6:19). How firmly should we hold on?
We face the danger of drowning in a world of desires and lusts. Riches choke us. Worries wash over us. But in the midst of the storm, there is hope and salvation. However, we must take hold of it. With a death grip. With unwavering intention and with all of our might we must grab hold of the things that really matter in life.
How firmly have you taken hold of your salvation? Are you instead holding onto the things of this world (work, money, pleasures, etc.)? Are you diligent to test what you believe and adamant to only follow doctrines which are from God, untainted by human traditions? Or are you nonchalant, just doing what you have always done or what everyone around you is doing?
Don’t let salvation slip through your fingers. Don’t let go. Take hold like your very soul depends on it.
