My anchor holds
Hebrews 6:17-20
17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability [unchangeability] of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
18 That by two immutable [unchangeable] things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, [comfort] who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
(KJV)
As most of us know we are living in perilous and dangerous times.
Our world is reeling and rocking with violence, bloodshed, breakdown of morality, resistance to authority, lawless confusion and disorder, and it’s only going to get worse.
No politician has the answer to all our problems in this world.
Now we have a new problem in the world called terrorism.
No one is safe from these terrorist whose main desire is to kill and destroy and bring terror into our lives.
I’m just a hay-seed preacher to some people, but I’m telling you this morning, we are living in a dangerous world and disaster could strike anytime, anywhere.
Hatred against America is growing by astronomical proportions today, and they are continually seeking ways to destroy us.
You could wake up tomorrow, my friend, turn on the television and see one of our major cities in total ruin, the stock market crashed, and America in serious jeopardy.
Pastor, I don’t want to hear that! That is negative thinking. That makes me feel bad!
The problem among religious folks today is that we want to ignore the truth and pretend that everything is okay.
You could also ignore the storm, but unless you take shelter you could be blown away.
A few years ago the residents around Mount St. Helens were told to evacuate their homes because the mountain was about to erupt.
An old gentleman who shared the name of a famous president, Harry Truman refused to leave. He was told over and over again but he would not heed the warning.
When the mountain blew the force was so great he probably only had time to turn his head. Now buried about 150 feet below the ground is the body of Harry Truman and his 16 cats, and an old pink Cadillac.
He ignored the warning, but he lost his life.
In spite of the storms that are raging in our world today, there is a shelter.
Psalm 61:3 “For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.”
In an unstable, dangerous world today, where can you go and what can you stand on.
Where can you place your confidence and hope?
The writer of the book of Hebrews here wrote, “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast and which entereth into that within the veil.”
The apostle here is resembling that of a vessel striving to perform her voyage through a troublesome, tempestuous, dangerous sea.
At last she gets near the port; but the tempest continues, the water is shallow, broken and dangerous, and she cannot get in:
In order to prevent her being driven to sea again she heaves out her anchor, which she has been able to get within the pier head, though she could not get in herself.
Then, swinging at the length of her cable, she rides out the storm in confidence, knowing that her anchor is sound, the ground is good in which it is fastened, and the cable is strong.
Though agitated, she is safe; though buffeted by the wind and tide, she does not drive; by and by the storm ceases, the tide flows in, her sailors begin to slowly come to port where the anchor still keeps its bite or hold, and she is now safely into port.
You see, the hope of eternal life is here represented as the soul’s anchor.
The world is the boisterous, dangerous sea.
We may be tossed by various temptations, trials and troubles, but our anchor is steadfast into this hope.
The cable between our ship and the port is faith.
The anchor is our hope.
Faith, like the cable is the connecting line between the ship and the anchor, or the soul and its hope of heaven.
Faith works, and hope holds fast.
Church, I have a hope this morning.
You see in spite of all the delusions and distractions the world puts before me, my hope is in heaven.
The cable line between my soul and heaven is my faith.
My faith is connected to my hope. My faith is strong, it will not break.
The storms of life have come against my soul.
Doubt has tried to break my cable line.
Discouragement has tempted me to turn loose of my anchor.
The devil has told me my anchor is not sure enough.
But my anchor still holds this morning!
We are tempted to doubt God’s Word.
We are tempted to lose hope in a hopeless world.
Where is it all going to end? What hope do I have when this life is over?
What do I have to look forward to?
Is this life all there is, with all its disappointments and heartache?
1 Cor. 15:19 “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”
20 ¶ “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”
Where have you placed your anchor this morning?
Have you placed your anchor in your finances?
You cannot take your money with you!
Have you placed your anchor in some church, dad’s religion, mom’s faith, church membership.
Where ever you have placed your anchor this morning, there will come a day when it will no longer hold.
The Islam extremist thinks that by killing their enemies and becoming a martyr they will go to heaven where they will have access to virgin women.
Their hope isn’t very strong, because it ain’t gonna happen!
The Jehovah Witnesses think that doing good works will cause them to inherit eternal life. Ain’t gonna happen.
Some think by following the teachings of Mohammad they will have access to heaven! Ain’t gonna happen!
You see, these people have their faith in some anchor that will not hold.
Notice again, “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
The place “within the veil”, the most holy place, was regarded as God’s peculiar abode, where He dwelt by the visible symbol of His presence.
That Holy place was emblematic of heaven.
The idea here is, that the hope of the Christian enters into heaven itself; it takes hold on the throne of God, and it is made firm by being fastened there.
It is not a hope of future riches, honors, or pleasures in this life, for such a hope would not keep our soul steady.
But it is the hope of immortal life in the world beyond.
You see, I have put my hope in God’s promise of eternal life, and that’s what keeps me holding on.
I have placed my confidence in God’s Word, and that’s what keeps me holding on.
Jesus said He has gone to prepare a place for me, and that’s what keeps me holding on.
I have placed my anchor in Jesus.
I have placed my anchor in God’s Word.
I have placed my anchor in Heaven, for there is where God is.
Oh, sometimes this old vessel of mine is tossed by the waves and winds trials, temptations, and tribulations.
Sometimes a big puff of wind comes along and I think I’m about to turn over.
Sometimes my anchor line, which is my faith, is stretched and tested, and I wonder how long my line can stay strong without breaking.
But my faith is strong, my anchor is firm, and my hope is sure.
