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"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast,
and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner
has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek" (Heb. 6:19-20).
A few years ago I was out on a lake with my father when I shut
the boat off to check the engine. Upon trying to restart the boat
I found that the batteries were dead, so we radioed for help. While
waiting, an evening chop came up and we began to drift toward shore.
Finally, we had to anchor to secure the boat from disaster. Although
the boat was being pushed by a strong wind, the anchor kept us from
danger until a friend arrived and gave us a jump.
Besides losing credibility with my dad concerning seamanship and
the lesson I learned concerning marine batteries, I learned something
about anchoring. The Hebrew writer metaphorically employs anchorage
to a Christian's hope because of the commonality of anchoring a
boat and anchoring a soul.
To anchor a boat you must cast an anchor that is secured to the
boat. After casting the anchor it must grab hold of the unseen ground
beneath the water. The correct type of anchor must be used according
to the types of ground that may be encountered and a proper amount
of rope must be let out for the anchor to take hold of the ground.
A Christian's anchorage begins with an anchor of hope. The anchor
must be cast into the unseen - into the most holy place, the throne
of God. The anchor must then grab hold in the heavenly places, but
here the metaphor changes.
A seaman casts an anchor without knowledge of the ground below
nor as to whether the anchor will grab hold. But Christians are
confident that their anchor will be firmly fixed to heaven because
Christ is present to securely plant the anchor. Additionally, Jesus
is in heaven to make certain our anchor remains fixed until the
day our hope becomes reality.
What is the one thing preventing us from having a secure and steadfast
hope? Faith. Paul says: "And now abide faith, hope, love, these
three; but the greatest of these is love" (1 Cor. 13:13). The greatest
is love, but without the lesser there cannot be the greater - without
a hope cast through faith there cannot be love.
We can learn many lessons from this metaphor. Perhaps the greatest
lesson is: The only reason for not having a sure and steadfast anchorage
in Christ is not casting an anchor into heaven through faith. Once
our anchor is cast, Christ firmly plants and maintains our anchor
until the day faith becomes sight or until we rebel and cut the
line. Thankfully, while breath remains in our members, it is never
too late to cast our anchor into heaven. Where have you cast your
anchor: In heaven, or on earth?
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