Stedfast & Unmoveable

"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." (I Corinthians 15: 57,58)

The Greek word for "stedfast" is "hedraios" and, according to A.H. Strong, means - 1) sitting, sedentary 2) firm, immovable, steadfast. "Unmoveable" is from the Greek word "ametakinētos" and means, metaphorically, "firmly persistent."

This exhortation of the apostle to the Christians consisted in his desire to see them strong and fixed in their faith, in their resolves and purposes. They are to be like trees, "grounded and settled" (Colossians 1: 23). They are to have solid foundations. Paul prayed "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith" in order that they may be "rooted and grounded in love." (Ephesians 3: 17) And, "Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." (Colossians 2: 7)

The Lord's people are said to be "trees of righteousness" and the "planting of the Lord." (Isaiah 61: 3) They are "like trees planted by the rivers of water" (Psalm 1: 3) They have a firm foundation upon which to grow. Therefore they sing - "I shall not be moved, just like a tree planted by the waters."

Christians will not compromise their faith. They will not yield one hair's breath from their inner convictions. They are solid as rocks in their allegiance to Christ who saved them and planted them in the truth.

Christians live the "purpose driven life." Wrote Paul, the great apostle:

"But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me." (II Timothy 3: 10,11)

What was that "purpose"? Was it to become rich in this world? Was it to achieve worldly fame? Let him tell us. "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Phillipians 1: 21,22)

This purpose motivated him in all things. It is what made him "stedfast" and "unmoveable" and caused him to be "always abounding in the work of the Lord." It also was the result of a deeply felt gratitude to the Lord for having had mercy on him in saving him. It was due to the Lord having "given victory" to him and great and precious promises.

A person with such a purpose and resolve will indeed be fortified and strong, and unable to be moved from off the rock upon which they are founded and unable to be uprooted by the greatest of storms. When one is thus planted in Christ and in the truth, then he will "henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine." (Ephesians 4: 14) He will no longer be a "wandering star" (Jude 13) but a fixed orb, stationary and immoveable.

The Psalmist asked a most important and penetrating question. "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11: 3)

Friends, we know what the righteous do in such cases. They remain stayed because their foundation is in Christ and in his righteousness. Where is your standing? In the sand or in the rock? Said Jesus:

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it." (Matthew 7: 24-27)