STEADFAST!

From the days of King Henry VIII until 1837, St. James’s Palace in London was the official residence of the British monarch. Today, St. James’s continues to be a functional palace, the station of the Royal Court. The palace is not accessible to the public, but the main entrance off Pall Mall is. And therein lies the fascination of St. James’s. You see, while guards from the Queen’s Household Division—the country’s most elite and historically significant units that undertake ceremonial and protective functions directly associated with the Head of State—can be seen at three other official buildings, St. James’s is where they are the most approachable. You can see the changing of the guards, with its intricate and formalized rituals up close. You can even walk right up to the guards. Many do. I did.

Unlike most others, I didn’t make faces at those guards while posing for photos, or try to get them to smile or speak. (OK, I did say “Hi!” to the guy.) Short of making physical contact, for which you are liable to get arrested, you can try all you want to elicit a response. But you know what? No matter what you attempt to engage them in, those sentries on duty won’t even turn a hair or utter a word or even acknowledge your presence. If they weren’t blinking, they might as well have been borrowed for the guard shift from Madame Tussaud’s. Immovable. Unshakeable. Steadfast.

Believers, too, are also called to be as steadfast, in the face of all external trouble, turmoil, and tumult. Of the upright and righteous, it is said:

He will not fear evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast,
trusting in the LORD.
Psalm 112:7

No, not even the wiles of the evil one, should cause consternation.

Though Satan should buffet,
Though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded
my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood
for my soul.
Horatio G. Spafford, 1873

And it is this salvation accomplished, yielding the hope and assurance of an eternity with Christ, that lends to us steadfastness.

This hope we have
as an anchor of the soul,
a hope both sure and steadfast.
Hebrews 6:19

Rooted in Christ, we remain immovable, firm, and secure.

Therefore as you have received
Christ Jesus the Lord,
so walk in Him,
having been firmly rooted
and now being built up in Him
and established in your faith ….
Colossians 2:6–7

And this steadfastness and rootedness—this walk of faith in the Lord—is the font of immeasurable peace.

The steadfast of mind
You will keep in perfect peace,
Because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3

For this God is our refuge.

He only is my rock
and my salvation,
my stronghold;
I shall not be greatly shaken.
Psalm 62:2

Of course, this steadfastness is not torpid stagnation, nor this rootedness irresolute paralysis. It is an active immovability! Steadfast and immovable against all counterinfluences, and steadfast in, and immovable from, the work of the Lord.

… thanks be to God,
who gives us the victory through
our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding
in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your toil
is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:57–58

Not in vain, for this steadfast and immovable labor will be rewarded one day. Christ promised:

“Behold, I am coming quickly,
and My reward is with Me,
to render to everyone
according to what he has done.”
Revelation 22:12

Stand fast. Steadfast!