THE ANCHOR FOR THE SOUL

In one year, Lawrence Chewning lost his father, faced challenges to his health, and endured the pain of his wife’s third miscarriage. While filled with deep discouragement, his only hope was in Christ. He penned the words of this song, “the anchor holds”. Out of pain came peace, out of his discouragements came forth hope.

“The anchor holds, though the ship is battered. The anchor holds, though the sails are torn.”

“I have fallen on my knees, as I faced the raging seas. The anchor holds in spite of the storm.”

Our text today is from Hebrews 6:19-20:

 “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…”

Hebrews 6:19-20 (NKJV)

Beginning in the Bronze Age, the first anchors were made from rocks, sacks filled with sand, and baskets filled with stones. Today’s anchor is made from cast steel; sophisticated engineering designs have made it more efficient and compact with the firmest holding power yet greatest ease of use. It has become more reliable!

The soul of man seeks an anchor that will not give up when the raging storms of life come. You see, life’s ups and downs are inevitable. Challenges and persecutions spice up our daily lives, though we would have rather avoided them. There ought to be a firm anchor and anchorage which is dependable.

In Hebrews 6:19, we find there is an anchor for the soul – a particular HOPE, THIS HOPE. We see the character of this HOPE; it is both sure and steadfast, firm and secure, trustworthy and strong, unshakable and immovable. We also discover the power of this HOPE; it rids off the veil of the holy of holies and gives us access. The person of Christ is then revealed, our anchor, both now and forever.

The anchor keeps the ship steady and secure

When tempest storms arose while at sea, the anchor would be released to steady the ship. Not only did this help secure the ship but also the lives and possessions. Storms are there to destabilise, derail and destroy; the anchor is there as an opposition to this. With improvement in the engineering of anchors, so comes the greater faith, trust and confidence to face every storm that arises.

Where there is no formidable anchor, there will be losses. Apostle Paul in Acts 27 was a prisoner at sea. The journey started with a prophetic warning:

“Saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” Nevertheless, the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul.”

Acts 27:10-11

The trust in the instruments of men and the faith in human wisdom and skill was not enough to help them amidst the storm. The anchors of men can fail, but Christ as the anchor of our souls never fails.

In the tempestuous winds, they could not advance. They struggled to secure their skiff, their cables could not undergird their ship, their four anchors failed (Acts 27:29), but God kept them. His hero was aboard, and therefore the ship must sail to shore. When storms arise, whose anchor do you trust in? The anchor of men or Christ?

Christ, the True Anchor

Hebrews 6:19-20 reveals that this anchor entered the Presence behind the veil. You see, the tabernacle had the forecourts where everyone could come to gather, the holy place where the purged could access through sacrifice, and the holy of holies, the innermost and most sacred place, where only the high priest could enter. The parochet separated the holy of holies from the holy place (Exodus 26:31-33) for many generations until Christ. At His death, the veil tore.

It is this Christ who is now become the anchor. He has stabilised our vessels, preserved our lives, and sustained our possessions. This anchor is therefore the symbol of hope for Christians. The physical anchor fails, but Christ, our anchor, never fails. He has weight enough to steady every vessel regardless of the challenging storms of life.

The Storms Are Real, But So Is the Anchor

Do not get me wrong. I have not said that because of Jesus, there shall not be any storms. There will be. He never promised us a “persecutionless” life, but surely His presence during each one. Life’s storms come as diagnoses, betrayals, financial collapse and bankruptcy, a silent ache of loneliness, heartbreaks, death of loved ones, crushed dreams and often leave scars we cannot forget. The strongest faith can feel battered by the relentless winds I have described. Yet, it is precisely in these moments that the anchor of the soul reveals His power.

• The anchor does not prevent the storm, but it holds us fast within it.
• The anchor is not our own strength or willpower, but Christ.

Why you need an anchor

1.        You need this anchor because no man has the power to save himself. The only escape route for humanity is in Christ.

2.        You cannot tell when the storms of life will come. I wish there was a powerful instrument that can pre-empt the exact moment in life when the storms will come. Unfortunately, not. Oftentimes, life does not prepare us for the battles ahead. You need a God who is ever prepared as your defence. This can only be in Christ.

3.        The anchor keeps you steady until you reach your destination. No storm is too strong to break the anchor. It falls deep into the ocean bed, provides the greatest force to counter the forceful winds.

4.        You need this anchor because there is no other way out!

Even When We Cannot See

There are seasons of life where the night is so dark, the shore is near invisible, and the waves are strong and high. You will feel dejected at this point but know this: the anchor does not rely on feelings or sight; it relies on hope and faith. It is secured in the solid rock of Christ’s finished work.

When darkness veils His lovely face,

I rest on His unchanging grace.

In every high and stormy gale,

My anchor holds within the veil.”

Let your soul rest in this unshakeable truth: the anchor holds because Christ holds you.

Pray with me: Father, I cannot navigate my path in life without you. You are the anchor for my soul. Help me to remain firm in my faith, hope and trust in You. Now and always. Amen

Your Next Steps:

1. Make the decision to embrace Jesus Christ today
2. Review what you have total reliance on. Is it your job, relationships, finance or intelligence? Make a decision to rely only on Christ.
3. Maintain your daily anchor through His word.

Shalom