Hold fast... unto the end. 

     On June 1, 1813 Captain James Lawrence (1781-1813) was in command of the American frigate USS Chesapeake when it faced off in battle, near Boston Harbor, with the British warship HMS Shannon. The Shannon launched a broadside that left Lawrence mortally wounded. After only fifteen minutes of fighting the British boarded the Chesapeake. As Lawrence lay dying, he ordered his officers who attended him, "Don't give up the ship." Since that time, these famous last words have become the motto for many like himself who are facing overwhelming circumstances.
    Captain Lawrence's words, "Don't give up..." should be the motto of every Christian. Let us therefore "stand fast in the Lord" (Phil 4:1) and not give up the old gospel ship. "We are well able to overcome" (Num 13:30) if we "hold fast... unto the end" (Heb 3:6). For "God always causeth us to triumph" (2Cor 2:14) and "giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1Cor 15:57).