Keep Your Eyes On The Anchor

When you think of an anchor, you usually picture the heavy object that's tied to a ship that keeps it secure to the bottom of the sea. An anchor is something that provides a firm foundation and security. An anchor attached to a boat or ship and then dropped in the water will keep it from drifting in the wind and current. An anchor is needed to safely ride out storms, stay on course, and avoid rocks or nearby reefs. Even in a safe harbor, the ship can drift, hit something, and sink. In my opinion, whether we are in the storms of life, or our lives are comfortably calm, we all need a solid anchor for our soul and spirit. In Scripture, the term anchor is used metaphorically to represent God and faith which keeps us steadfast and gives us hope during the trials and storms of life. Hebrews 6 tells us that it's our hope that is the "anchor for our soul".

Yes, Jesus is our hope and anchor who will meet us in the midst of storms. He is the one who is able to keep us steadfast and unmovable in spite of the tides of life. “This hope [this confident assurance] we have as an anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whatever pressure bears upon it] a safe and steadfast hope that enters within the veil [of the heavenly temple, that most Holy Place in which the very presence of God dwells],” -Hebrews 6:19 AMP.

Hebrews 6:19 declares: “Hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast…” This is not only a conceptual hope. It is an anchor for the soul. By that hope we are firm, and we are secure. Being anchored in one’s soul is a powerful image of the “perfect peace” “You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You in both inclination and character], Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].” - ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:3‬ ‭AMP. This perfect peace is secured for us in Jesus. We are grounded in truth and the righteousness of Christ as we are sanctified.

Our hope in Christ is like an anchor for the soul. The Greek stoic philosopher Epictetus wrote, “One must not tie a ship to a single anchor, nor life to a single hope.” Christians have but one anchor Jesus Christ our hope. “because of the [confident] hope [of experiencing that] which is reserved and waiting for you in heaven. You previously heard of this hope in the message of truth, the gospel [regarding salvation]” - Colossians‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭AMP.

“Paul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus by the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed) our Hope [the fulfillment of our salvation],” - 1 Timothy‬ ‭1:1‬ ‭AMP‬‬. However, this spiritual anchor is different from material anchors on ships. For one thing, we are anchored upward to heaven not downward. We are anchored, not to stand still, but to move ahead! Our anchor is “sure” it cannot break and “steadfast” it cannot slip. No earthly anchor can give that kind of security!

“We have this certain hope like a strong, unbreakable anchor holding our souls to God himself. In these unstable days when our circumstances and stability are challenged almost hourly, we need a strong, unbreakable anchor for our souls. God is that anchor. Connection to Him is our only hope. One thing is for sure, He is in control. The best way to keep us from drifting is to lay hold of the anchor! Anchored heavenward! How much more secure can we be?