Hold Fast: Bold Access to an Unchanging God

Spencer R. Fusselman, D.Min

We live in an era characterized by profound skepticism, relentless anxiety, and shifting cultural sands. Modern society continually redefines its moral standards, frequently weaponizing secular "science" or human intellect to dismantle the authority of the Bible. When the cultural ground beneath us feels like it is constantly fracturing, human nature instinctively looks for something solid—something immovable—to hold onto.

In the first century, Jewish Christians were experiencing this exact same cultural earthquake. Facing the threat of intense persecution and social exile, they were severely tempted to abandon the invisible, faith-based grace of the New Covenant and retreat to the visible, physical safety of the old temple system. But in Hebrews 10:19-25, the author offers them—and us—a breathtaking, unshakeable anchor: the finished work of Jesus Christ and the staggering invitation to step boldly into the presence of an immutable God.

Under the Old Covenant, the average worshiper approached the presence of God with terror and severe restriction. Access to the Holy of Holies was blocked by a massive, heavy veil. To bypass that veil meant certain death; the people had to rely entirely on a human high priest to offer the blood of bulls and goats just to temporarily hold back divine judgment (Leviticus 16:2).

But Hebrews 10 announces a violent, glorious disruption of that ancient system. When the physical body of Jesus Christ was torn on the cross, the heavy veil in the temple was supernaturally ripped from top to bottom by God Himself (Matthew 27:51). Christ inaugurated a "new and living way" through the veil of His own flesh.

Because of this finished work, we are commanded to enter the holiest place with boldness (Hebrews 10:19). The Greek word for boldness used here, parrhesia, means absolute assurance, unhindered confidence, and the freedom to speak openly. As Charles Spurgeon, poetically observed regarding the torn veil: "The veil is rent. We now have free and close access to the living God through our glorious Lord... No merit of mine, no work of my hand—Only Christ's blood makes me bold to stand."

To approach God with hesitation, fear, or a lingering sense that you must "clean yourself up" first is actually an insult to the blood of Jesus. You have been granted 24/7 access directly to the Creator of the universe. Use it boldly.

If we have such bold, unrestricted access, why do we so frequently feel distant and alienated from the Lord? It usually comes down to trusting our fluctuating emotions rather than theological truth. We must anchor our minds to a critical, foundational doctrine: God is immutable. He declares in Malachi 3:6, "For I am the Lord, I do not change." He does not move, shift, or evolve.

The great theologian A.W. Pink captured the magnificent comfort of this doctrine in his classic work, The Attributes of God:

"Human nature cannot be relied upon; but God can! However unstable I may be, however fickle my friends may prove, God changes not. If He varied as we do, if He willed one thing today and another tomorrow... who could confide in Him? But, all praise to His glorious name, He is ever the same. His purpose is fixed, His will stable, His word is sure."

If you wake up today and feel far from God, the Holy Spirit will gently help you recognize a sobering reality: God didn't move; you did. We drift when we allow unconfessed sin to linger, when we prioritize worldly distractions, or when we simply stop communicating with Him. The immediate, biblical mechanism to get back on track is not to wait for a mystical feeling to return. It is to simply turn around, confess the drift, and take a bold step back into the throne room. As James 4:8 promises, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."
Gaining Confidence in a Skeptical World

Because God is unchanging, we are commanded to "hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23). But how do we hold fast when a skeptical world uses secular philosophy and evolutionary narratives to dismantle our confidence in the Bible?

Faith is not a blind leap into the dark; faith is believing and receiving exactly what God has already revealed. You cannot have total confidence in God's Word if you never open it. As Proverbs 30:5 declares, "Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him."

If your primary source of truth comes from social media, secular news, and culturally approved narratives, your spiritual confidence will inevitably erode. We actively build unshakeable confidence in His revealed truth by studying it, internalizing it, and testing it against the hollow, shifting claims of the world (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Holding fast to the truth was never designed to be a solo endeavor. The author of Hebrews gives us a final, vital command: "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together..." (Hebrews 10:24-25).
When our confidence is shaken or our hearts are hurting, our fleshly instinct is often to isolate. We pull away from the church. But isolation is the enemy's ultimate breeding ground for spiritual complacency and total defeat. We gather together to bind up the wounded, to admonish those who are wandering, and to stir each other up. Renowned Bible scholar Warren Wiersbe perfectly summarized the true purpose of Christian community: "The emphasis here is not on what a believer gets from the assembly, but rather on what he can contribute to the assembly."

If the body of Christ cannot support, heal, and challenge its own members, we have absolutely no chance of reaching a watching world. Hold fast to your confession. Build your confidence in the infallible Word. And lock arms with your brothers and sisters as we eagerly wait for the return of our King.

Enter Boldly Today: Stop hesitating in your prayer life because of past failures or feelings of unworthiness. Confess any pride, and walk boldly into the throne room of grace based solely on the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 4:16).

Acknowledge the Drift: God is immutable. If you feel distant from God today, acknowledge that you are the one who moved. Stop waiting for an emotional experience; open your Bible and take the immediate step of drawing near to Him.

Build Biblical Confidence: What specific cultural narrative or skeptical claim is currently shaking your confidence in God's Word? Commit this week to researching a solid, biblical, apologetic answer to that specific doubt.

End the Isolation: If you have been distancing yourself from regular corporate church gatherings or deep fellowship, commit right now to re-engaging. Isolation makes you an easy target for the enemy.

Stir Someone Up: Following Wiersbe's advice, shift your focus from what you can get from church to what you can give. Send a text, make a phone call, or schedule a coffee date with the specific goal of stirring a fellow believer up to love and good works.