“We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first” (Hebrews 3:14)

As believers, we stand on a foundation that is unshakable. This foundation is Jesus Christ, the one through whom the heavens and earth were made. He is the perfect expression of God’s glory, our Savior, now seated in the place of highest honor at the right hand of the Father. The writer of Hebrews tells us that we get to share in all that Christ is and all that He has accomplished. There is, however, a condition: we must hold firmly to the confidence we had at first.

This brings up a beautiful and essential truth about our walk with God. How did this journey begin? It started with faith. The Apostle Paul encourages us in Colossians, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him” (Colossians 2:6).

Think back to that moment. How did you receive Christ? It was by faith. You heard the good news, and your heart responded. You believed that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead, and you were saved (Romans 10:9-10). It wasn’t about what you did; it was about trusting in what He did for you. Salvation is a beautiful combination of God’s grace and our faith in that grace. It is a gift, not a reward for our hard work (Ephesians 2:8-9).

A Journey of Faith from Start to Finish

Since we began our walk with Christ by faith, it makes sense that we must continue in the very same way. Our life as believers is a journey of faith from beginning to end. While our faith may grow, change, and deepen over time, the foundation it is built upon never changes. Christ is that firm foundation.

The invitation is to share in everything He has for us, but to do so, we must hold on to our faith until the very end. Why is this so crucial? Because faith is the key that unlocks the door to all that God has promised. This is why the same writer of Hebrews later states, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). To receive from God, we must first believe He is good and that He has good things for us. Believing requires faith.

This truth simplifies our complex lives in a profound way. All we truly need to do is keep our focus on Jesus. When we look to Him and continue walking in the same faith we started with, we find success. We become rooted and established on a foundation that is firm and unmovable, a foundation that will one day present us before God as pure and holy.

Fixing Our Eyes on the Author of Our Faith

Throughout the letter to the Hebrews, the author continually reminds us to fix our thoughts on Jesus. The entire book builds to a powerful crescendo with this very instruction. It’s as if the writer is saying, “After all this, if you remember one thing, remember this.”

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)

This passage is a beautiful summary of the Christian life. It’s a race, and it requires perseverance. There will be things that hinder us and sins that try to trip us up. The key to not growing weary or losing heart is to fix our eyes on Jesus.

He is the "pioneer and perfecter of our faith." This means He is both the one who started our faith and the one who will see it through to completion. Our confidence is not in our own ability to hold on, but in His ability to hold us. When we feel our grip loosening, we can look to Him, the one who endured the cross for the joy of bringing us to the Father. When we consider all that He went through for us, our own struggles come into perspective, and we find the strength to continue.

Holding firmly to our confidence doesn't mean we will never have doubts or fears. It means that when those moments come, we know where to turn. We fix our eyes back on Jesus. We remember the simple faith that saved us, and we trust that the same grace that began this good work in us will carry it on to completion. Your journey started with confidence in Christ, and by His strength, it can finish that way too.

Personal Reflection Questions

1. How has your faith grown or changed since you first believed, and what draws you back to confidence in Christ?

2. What tends to hinder your faith, and how does focusing on Jesus help you keep going?

3. Where do you need to rely less on yourself and more on Christ to finish the race well?