This week we have been observing the godly life of Hezekiah.  My hope is that we will be motivated to follow his good example, emulating the things in his life that made him godly.  The first thing that Hezekiah did when he took the throne was to cleanse the kingdom of the idols that were worshipped during the reign of his father, Ahaz.  Hezekiah did this because he had a profound trust in the Lord.  Now, another characteristic that Hezekiah possessed, which we should try to copy in our own lives, was steadfastness.

2 Kings 18:6 (ESV)
⁶ For he held fast to the LORD. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the LORD commanded Moses.

Do you consistently keep the commandments of the Lord?  The godly do simply because they possess a Godward attitude.  When our minds are consistently on God, desiring to please him in all that we do, the end result will be steadfastness.  The Bible encourages us to develop this characteristic.  It is the only way that we can be confident in our salvation.

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.

I have often pointed out that our salvation is not based on a point system.  We cannot look at our lives like we would a ledger, concluding that if we have more checks on the side that lists good works than the side that lists the bad, we will go to heaven.  It does not work like that when it comes to our relationship with God.  The only way we will be saved is if we are found faithful when the Lord returns.  If not, Paul indicates that our labor will have been in vain.  Knowing this, he urged the saints at Corinth to be consistent in their Christianity.

The word “steadfast” literally means, “to sit,” (Strong’s Greek & Hebrew Dictionary).  It reminds me of protestors who sit at a designated place and will not move no matter what.  Sometimes the police have to actually pick them up and move them.  That is steadfastness—a determination not to move.  As Christians, we should be firmly positioned in Christ, resolved to continue in the ways of the Lord no matter what the devil tries to do.

Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV)
⁶ Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Are you rooted in Christ and established in the faith?  If you are, you are no doubt living a godly life.  If, instead, you are inconsistent, living for the Lord only in spurts, then you can be sure that godliness has alluded you.  Let us be like Hezekiah.  He held fast to the Lord even in the face of danger.  He refused to depart from Him because He was determined to do what was right.  We can be the same way.  We must be the same way if we want a home in heaven after a while.

Revelation 2:10 (ESV)
¹⁰ Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.   

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