While walking along Plymouth Harbor several weeks ago I quickly spotted one of my favorite seascape sites, the old, very rusty, anchor that has been there ever since we first visited Plymouth in 1993. Hopefully, it isn’t among the historic sites vandalized a couple days ago in Plymouth.
The anchor has long been a theme in Christian hymns (see below for a partial list). Recently we have been enjoying music by Matt Boswell and a song titled “
Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor”.In the fury of the storm;
When the winds of doubt blow through me,
And my sails have all been torn.
In the suffering, in the sorrow,
When my sinking hopes are few;
I will hold fast to the anchor,
It will never be removed.
How thankful we are for the blessed anchor of hope we have in Jesus! This anchor is eternally firm and secure. The daily verse is the only place in the Bible where the word “anchor” is used figuratively. It is also used literally in Acts 27 during Paul’s shipwreck (v.29). The Greek word is Aγκυρα, pronounced “ankura” (our English “anchor” is merely a transliteration of this word). The anchor was used in the Greek world as a picture for hope.
This hope is what the believer has “fled to take hold of”. Worldly suggestions for hope are always temporal and short sighted. The hope Jesus offers is the only true and lasting source of hope that is endless. Once we firmly take hold of this hope we are indeed “greatly encouraged”.
“Hope”, as used in the Bible, is not a wishful thought but a confident expectation of absolute certainty. The Holman Bible Dictionary offers this insight: “Hope is the confidence that what God has done for us in the past guarantees our participation in what God will do in the future.”
Perhaps your soul feels pounded upon by a storm of adversity even as you read this. Or there may be a storm on the horizon. If things seem steady in your personal life you don’t have to look far to see the unsteadiness in the world around you! Today we want to encourage you to ground your faith in the anchor that is steadfast weathering the worst storms of life. Truly, this anchor of hope we have in Jesus Christ is firm and secure!
Rest in this blessed assurance: God and His Word provide the steady anchor and sure foundation for the soul. Today let us focus on the immutable God, whose Word has promised: “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal” (Isaiah 26:3,4).
Ever faithful, ever true!
We will hold fast to the anchor,
It shall never be removed.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
