Eddy held on tight to a branch from the nearby weeping willow. “Here I go!” he exclaimed as he swung across the flooded creek and landed on the other side. “Now it’s your turn, Derek.”

Derek grabbed the same branch and prepared to cross the creek. “Watch this,” he said. As he swung across the creek, he let go of the first branch and grabbed a second branch. Because the second branch was too flimsy, it gave way and he plummeted into the creek below.

After getting a bruised knee, Derek learned an important lesson: hold fast to what you have rather than grabbing onto something else.

In the Christian life we, too, have to hold fast. We need to keep a firm hold on the Word of God. We are tempted to grab the weak branch of biblical counterfeits. Satan uses doctrines like, “Salvation can’t be all by grace. You must first make Christ Lord of your life,” or “If you backslide, you will lose your salvation.”

The second branch seems to make sense. But beware. Satan’s counterfeits lead to spiritual confusion and can cause us to share an unclear gospel.

Prove what is right by what the Bible says. Do not trust the logic the devil offers. Hold fast to the truth.