The Last Leaf

My wife and I planted a plumeria stick in our front yard several years ago which now has grown into a beautiful tree. Its pink blossoms delight us most of the year until the fall when the flowers fade and the leaves begin to fall. The other day I noticed that my plumeria tree only had one leaf left. All the other leaves had blown off in the various hurricanes and tropical storms except the last leaf which clung stubbornly to its position on the tree.

I am thankful that when it comes to our salvation it is God who holds us, not we who hold onto God. But when it comes to our fellowship with God, we are challenged all through the Bible to hold fast. It is our responsibility to not forsake the assembling with God’s people (Heb. 10:25). It is our obligation to be vigilant in our resistance to sin as 1 Pet. 5:8 tell us to: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world”. It is our duty to hold fast to our allegiance and obedience to the Word of God (Heb. 2:1). 1 Cor. 15:58 calls us to: “…Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord”. Many other verses in the Bible make it plain that when it comes to our day by day walk with God, we are responsible to hold fast.

I’m sure there are people who once surrounded us who have dropped away. The harsh winds of trials or the icy fingers of temptation will try to rip all of us from our fellowship with God. But God calls us to hold fast, cling tightly, and to be strong in our walk with Him. Are you one of the leaves who have fallen off in your faithfulness to the Lord or are you still clinging to Him. Let’s all hold fast like the last leaf and refuse to release our grip on God.