“This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.” (Hebrews 6:19 NLT)
My wife and I were given the privilege and opportunity to go on a few cruises. To me, one of the fascinating things about the ships on which we traveled were the anchors. As a passenger, I didn’t see the anchors, except the chains on which the anchors were connected, but I learned that anchors are generally between 10 and 20 feet long and weigh between 10 and 20 tons.
The purpose of an anchor is primarily to hold the ship in place once it’s docked, but another use, at least in Bible times, is seen in Acts 27:17 where the anchor was used as a means of slowing the ship in a severe storm. But how does an anchor illustrate truth that’s meaningful to us today?
The context of Hebrews 6 is hope in the promises of God. The opening verses of chapter 6 refer to the need of each believer to grow beyond “the basic teachings about Christ,” and learn to trust in God’s promises, holding fast to the confidence that He will always do what He says. The writer uses Abraham as an example of one to whom God not only made a promise but swore an oath that Abraham’s descendants would be “beyond number.” So, what does that mean for us?
There are at least two things that are critical for us to learn from these verses. First, our hope in the trustworthiness of God’s promise is as an anchor for our soul. What does that mean? In much the same way as Noah and his family took refuge in the Ark, we who have placed our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ have now taken refuge in Him for the salvation of our souls, and for the fulfillment of His purposes in and through us in this life.
God has repeatedly kept His promises recorded throughout the Bible and they have now become verification of God’s unchangeable nature, and therefore, evidence that when He makes a promise, He keeps it. The promise upon which our soul is anchored is that God made a way for us to experience eternal life, not just after we die, but from the moment we begin our walk with Jesus. Our hope is securely anchored in Jesus and His completed work on our behalf on the Cross.
The second critical lesson we must learn is, as with Abraham, we must patiently wait until the timing of His promise for us is fulfilled. The reality is, God’s promise of eternal life in Christ could be fulfilled today, but it may not be. God alone knows the day and hour. What did Abraham do in the interim? He remained faithful by holding on to the trustworthiness of God’s promise. That’s what we must do, but how?
God’s Word, the Bible, is filled with His promises to which we can cling. For example, His promise to be faithful; to never leave or forsake us; to always provide for us in any area of need we may have. We can count on God’s presence to be with us, as long as we put Him first in our life and decisions (Matthew 6:33). To believe we can depend on God and not anchor our hearts and minds in His Word is like thinking we can cross the ocean in a life raft. The odds aren’t good.
Every morning I renew my strength, both in prayer and in reading God’s Word. Throughout the day we need to maintain a conversation with our Father as He walks with us through every detail of every decision. When difficulties arise, as they surely will, we trust the Lord to guide us through the storm, holding tightly to His hand.
If you’re trusting in anything but the completed work of Christ on the Cross for your eternal life, you’re going to be sorely disappointed the second you open your eyes after you’ve passed from this life to the next.
Some assurances God has given me in this season of my life is that no matter what comes, He is with me. His promises are true. I can trust Him. I am His and He is mine. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 