If you ever hear the words, “don’t move,” especially if they are shouted, your first reaction would probably be that of alarm.  One might hear those words when he is on the wrong side of a pointed gun, or, perhaps, when you are close to something dangerous (like a poisonous snake) and your only chance is to remain perfectly still.

If you read the Bible, you will hear some derivative of that warning.  Listening to that warning may not save your life, but it will definitely save your soul.  There is only one way to maintain our salvation in Christ and that is to continue to abide in Him and remain in a state of faithfulness.  If we move, we could be sacrificing our eternal home in heaven.  This being the case, the Bible consistently reminds us not to allow ourselves to be moved.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV)
⁵⁸  Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Do you see the importance of not moving?  I have often pointed out that God is not going to judge us on a point system.  If you are found in an unfaithful state when Jesus comes back, it does not matter if you had fifty years of faithfulness to show for yourself.  All that labor for the Lord will have been in vain.  Paul knew this; so, he exhorted the brethren at Corinth to be immovable.

Paul also used the word “steadfast,” which for the most part, means the same thing as “immovable.”  In fact, almost every Bible dictionary (that I have) had “immovable” as a part of the definition for “steadfast.”  The slight difference in the two words may be found in the fact that “steadfast” has mostly to do with our frame of mind.  The word literally means to remain seated, but when used metaphorically, as it is by Paul, it points to being “fixed in purpose” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon).

David understood the importance of being immovable, and he determined to be so.

Psalm 62:1-2 (NKJV)
¹  Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. ²  He only is my rock and my salvation;  He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.

David’s fixed purpose was to remain with God no matter what, and that should be our purpose as well.  Rain or shine, rough waters or smooth sailing, our mindset should always be, “I shall not be moved.”  Why?  Because apart from God we are hopeless and without defense against the fiery darts of the devil.  The words of Jesus in John 15 say it all.

John 15:6 (NKJV)
⁶  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

The word “abide” means “to stay, remain, or tarry in a given place or state” (Strong).  Apart from Christ we will wither and die spiritually.  This is what Satan wants to happen to us.  He will do everything he can to move us away from our Lord and our God.  We must not allow him to have success.

Don’t move!  Maybe there is not a gun pointed at your face, but exhortation an from God’s Word should get our attention.  The stakes are just as high; in fact, they are even higher.  Our relationship with God and our hope of heaven depend on our being steadfast and immovable.  So, if you are in Christ, don’t move!

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.