A ship’s anchor is a heavy object lowered to the sea-bed to keep the ship from moving away.
Hope is the Christian’s anchor that has securely entered into heaven itself, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf. This means no human “turbulence” such as conflict, strife, worry, stress, trials, burdens, temptations, and the like, will be able to separate us from our hope in God.
The writer to the Hebrew epistle points out that Jesus, as our Forerunner and Great High Priest has already entered “behind the curtain”—the heavenly sanctuary of God—for us.
The text says: “We who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 6:17-20). Christians have this blessed, wonderful, and unfailing assurance of hope.
William MacDonald makes an insightful commentary on the believer’s hope as an anchor. He writes: “In the storms and trials of life this hope serves as an anchor of the soul. The knowledge that our glorification is as certain as if it had already happened keeps us from drifting on the wild waves of doubt and despair.”
“The anchor is not cast in the shifting sands of this world but takes hold in the heavenly sanctuary. Since our hope is the anchor, the meaning is that our hope is secured in God’s Presence behind the veil. Just as sure as the anchor is there, we shall be there also.” (Believer’s Bible Commentary p. 2176 Thomas Nelson Publishers).
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot more,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love”
—Pricilla J Owens, 1829-1907
Every human needs hope, irrespective of their position in life. Stress, anxiety, and adversity respect no one. The wealthy person has hope he will keep his wealth and become even wealthier. The poor or pauper has hope that someday he will rise from his poverty to live a better life.
For the Christian, his hope is not in the things he can see, touch, or handle. Rather, his hope lies above and beyond this sin-defiled world’s system, and firmly anchored in Christ.
In these days of crisis after crisis, confusion after confusion, uncertainty after uncertainty, trouble after trouble; to name a few; we need strong confidence in the God of the Scriptures and His enablement to carry us through. God says to us: “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known” (Jeremiah 33:3).
Call to me means the believer must first pray to God, and the answer is about to happen. And with the answer comes great and hidden things you have not known. In David’s Psalm of praise to God, he said God “fulfills the desire of those who love him; he also hears their cry and saves them” (Psalm 145:19). Hope in God is a mighty force when it is grounded in prayer and purpose.
The main purpose of the anchor is to keep the ship securely firm and steady in the midst of strong storms and high tides at sea. And so it is with the anchor of the soul. God’s children are securely kept and preserved in Christ Jesus who is now seated at His Father’s right hand; “since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
The psalmist in his longing for God asks his soul, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” And then he seems to realize hope in God is lacking, because he instructs his soul, “Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” (Psalm 42:5,6).
The text implies that hope presents yet another occasion in which to thank and praise God who is my help and my salvation. Glory and praise be to God. Amen.