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My favorite recreational activity is boating, although
I seldom have an opportunity to go out on a boat. Twice
I found myself adrift without an anchor, nearly resulting
in a boating accident. It's not that we didn't have an anchor,
but the hook wasn't set and we were allowing the boat to
drift. Both incidences taught me an invaluable lesson.
Two Events in Life
The first time I nearly had an accident while adrift, I
was on a lake. The batteries had gone dead and we were waiting
for help to arrive. When I realized we would soon run aground,
I threw out the anchor and waited safely for help.
The second time, my family was with another family aboard
a boat in the ocean. We decided it was time to go and raised
the anchor, taking our time to get under way and head back
home. Before long, I realized we were quickly drifting toward
land as waves pushed us toward shore. I alerted the owner
of the boat, who quickly scurried to get underway, before
grounding the 60,000 pound yacht.
We Need an Anchor
These two events reminded me that danger lurks nearby, when
we allow our lives to drift without an anchor.
When we allow our lives to drift, we are "tossed here and
there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine,
by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming"
(Eph. 4:14).
As Christians, we need an anchor to remain faithful, keeping
us safe from the deceptions of Satan.
Hope is Our Soul-Anchor
Our soul-anchor is hope (Heb. 6:13-19). We believe
that God cannot lie, and that He's promised eternal life
to everyone who obeys Jesus (Heb. 5:9). Therefore, we "take
hold of the hope set before us" (Heb. 6:18). This hope,
is an anchor to our soul (Heb. 6:19).
Jesus Keeps Our Anchor Securely Set, Behind the Veil
Jesus is the One who keeps our anchor secure, so it doesn't
give way and set our lives adrift.
- "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope
both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the
veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us,
having become a high priest forever according to the order
of Melchizedek" (Heb. 6:19-20).
Jesus is in the heavenly tabernacle, behind the veil (i.e.,
the Holy of Holies) where our soul-anchor is securely planted.
This is the place Jesus entered, through His own blood having
offered Himself and obtaining eternal redemption (Heb. 9:11-14).
It is Jesus, and His sacrifice, that secures our anchor
of hope in heaven.
As the old hymn says, "We have an anchor that keeps the
soul, steadfast and sure while the billows roll, fastened
to the Rock which cannot move, grounded firm and deep in
the Savior's love." Our anchor is hope. Jesus is the Rock
that keeps our anchor steadfast, sure, and immovable, so
that we don't lose hope and drift away from God.
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