We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
Hebrews 6:19
Each time I have read the verse above, read a devotional about this verse, or hear a sermon about it, I resonate with the anchor symbolism. I remember as a young child boating with my Dad on the Illinois River and learning all things nautical. One of my favorite memories as a young adult is when my family was boating on the shores of Lake Michigan. We “beached” the boat as far into the shore as possible and then set the anchor in the sand. The anchor was tight and holding strong as began our decent down the beach. After we had traveled a distance my dad looked back at the boat and asked, “does it look like the boat is moving?” We all agreed that the anchor had loosened its grip in the sand and the boat was floating away from shore. We took off running back down the beach. My dad waded out into the water and was able to jump on the boat and pull it back up to the shore. We reset the anchor this time making triple sure that it was secure and not slipping.
In Biblical times, anchors on boats were not lowered into the ocean. Instead, a sailor would leave the boat and secure the anchor on shore to keep it from floating away. Instead of worrying about their boats floating away the sailors made sure that the anchor was secure.
Just like the anchor on a boat, we have the same hope in Jesus. He steadies our souls and secures us. This hope is a trust that God will fulfill His promise. We have hope because He has given us both a promise and an oath.
Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confided it with an oath.
Hebrews 6:17
The Lord cannot lie. We read of the promise He made to Abraham in verse 13. After Abraham waited patiently, he received what was promised to him (verse 15). This is an assurance to us that God does what He promises He will do.
When we put our trust in God, He promises to be our anchor. We are forever secure and tethered to Him. Our hope is firm and secure because God has promised on oath to fulfill His Word. No matter what comes against us in this world, we can be assured that our anchor does not slip, we can stand firm and trust in the Lord.
Levititcus 15-18, Psalm 31, Hebrews 6