We have an Anchor

"That...we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast." (Heb.6:18‑19)

Anchors are very important to ship safety. They hold the ship steady especially at the commencement and end of a sea voyage. Many ships were saved from rocks close to the shore by the use of anchors. It is hard to imagine the days before steam power and modern forms of ship power how commercial vessels navigated from one port to another using sails or oars. William the only legitimate son of Henry I of England died crossing the channel in 1120AD. Even today ships run aground and people die at sea. The power of the sea is not to be underestimated.

But anchors are useless without strong cables and a suitable seabed in order to deploy the anchor to good effect. All anchors need ‘anchor rode’ to link the anchor to the ship or boat. Larger vessels have mostly chains, but smaller vessels may have nylon rope or hemp as it was in the old days. These connectors have to be heavy to avoid nearby vessels and not get damaged by coral or rocks. Hemp can rot. But without the anchor rode the anchor is useless to the vessel. There are all sorts of sea‑beds into which an anchor can be deployed; it makes a difference if it is rocky, sandy or clay.

In the Old Testament Jonah is well‑known for being caught in a storm at sea. The crew were throwing objects off the ship to lighten the load before Jonah was cast into the sea to save the vessel and crew.

The apostle Paul was shipwrecked three times. (2 Cor.11:25) There is one desperate account in Acts 27 when Paul was being taken to Rome to be tried by Caesar. He left the promised land and headed along the coast between Cyprus and modern‑day Turkey, then made the way toward Crete sailing to the south of that large Mediterranean island. Paul advised staying there. His advice was ignored. Big mistake. They travelled on toward Rome. The problem was a storm came up which lasted 14 days and they needed to throw off the cargo and some of the rigging. Suddenly Paul got a message from an angel that they would all make it safely to shore, but the ship would be lost. So as they got closer to shore they cut the anchors and made for land. The vessel was lost, and they were forced to spend time in Malta. It just goes to show how dangerous shipping could be in New Testament times.

Hebrews 6:13‑19 states that, hope is the anchor, for the Christian. This shows the import of hope to Christians past and present. Imagine being without hope, true hope, and it is true because as the writer to the Hebrews says, "it is impossible for God to lie." But what is the exact hope in?

The Abrahamic promise

Hebrews tells us "God made a promise to Abraham...saying, ‘Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you’." (vv.13‑14 NKJV) Other verses in Genesis expand upon this to say, in Abraham and his seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. (Gen.12:2‑3; 22:17‑18) This is from Abraham and Sarah themselves because the seed was not through Hagar, Sarah’s servant, but through Abraham’s wife Sarah. (Gen.17:15‑19; Rom.9:9) This seed will bless the whole world population.

A miracle would be needed to bring the start of this hope into reality. As Abraham and Sarah were 100 and 90 years old respectively and neither were fertile and past a time when fertility was to be expected. Added to that they had been childless all their married life. But so it was as God had promised, through faith Sarah conceived and gave birth to her only child. (Heb.11:11) His name was Isaac, and he was weaned and grew.

There was one notable event in the life of Abraham and Isaac where they were to exhibit faith and figure an event many years ahead. God told Abraham to take Isaac up to Moriah and offer him as a burnt offering. So the two of them went together and on the third day could see their destination. They prepared the wood and Isaac asked his father "where is the lamb for the offering"? So Abraham took Isaac, bound him, and laid him on the altar. But where was hope in this event and for what reason would God make this request and expect it to be carried out?

We all know what happened next before Isaac could be killed. God provided a ram. And because Abraham did not withhold his only begotten son (Gen.22:16) the promise was renewed because of the faith and actions of Abraham and Isaac, Abraham knowing by faith it was possible for God to raise the dead. (Heb.11:17‑19)

What does this promise to the seed mean to later generations and to us? In due time Jesus was born to Mary who was descended from Abraham and Isaac. Likewise Joseph was also descended from Abraham. Also like Isaac, Jesus offered himself to the Heavenly Father but no ram was provided to take his place. Gal.3:29 is quite clear, if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. This means not only was our Lord Jesus Abraham’s seed but that the Gospel age church, regardless of whether they are biologically or legally from Abraham. (Gal.3:16) The hope of the promise continues with Christians today.

Hope

What kind of hope was in the mind of the writer to the Hebrews? Collins Dictionary defines hope as a feeling of desire and expectation that things go well in the future. There is a saying that there are two certain things in life; death and taxes. Here hope is in relation to life after death. Peter wrote of a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible reserved in heaven for the Christian. (1 Pet.1:3‑5) Paul describes this hope of the saints as "Christ in you the hope of glory" in relation to this heavenly hope. (Col.1:27) This hope is steadfast and sure.

The Abrahamic promise gave hope to Abraham and Sarah but importantly to everyone. First was the need to identify the seed figured in Isaac but revealed in the Lord Jesus. All our hopes are centred in Jesus as the son of God who would bless the world. To date we only see shadows of the blessing of all the families of the earth and in faith we await that time of worldwide blessing. Also in the Old Testament Job had a hope that at the appointed time he would be remembered and come forth to life once more. (Job 14:13‑15; 19:25)

Our Lord Jesus taught of the resurrection of the dead for all. (John 5:25,28) Paul spoke up to the Sanhedrin of the hope of the resurrection and then in front of a Roman governor both for the just and unjust, (Acts 24:15) and was unequivocal that "as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Cor.15:22)

Faith and hope

Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. (Heb.11:1) Faith is linked to hope. In this picture there is the cable or anchor rode that attaches the vessel to the anchor otherwise it might be like a coin tossed into a fountain.

As its been noted, by faith Sarah conceived and gave birth to her only child at the age of 90. Likewise by faith Abraham left Ur and later offered up Isaac.

Ground

So we have our anchor and a good cable but where are we deploying it. In some places and times depending on the wind and current it may not stay in place. If it is put down to a rocky seabed it may not be secure. Similarly on a sandy seabed the anchor will drag according to the power of the current and tide. However on a clay seabed the anchor will bury and get a good grip. An anchor is shaped in a certain way so that the more its pulled on the deeper it grips.

On what grounds do we have our faith? The Bible furnishes many signs and miracles that give a basis to our faith. In the Old Testament Jonah was in peril at sea. He was thrown overboard and miraculously survived three days in the body of the whale before being deposited back close to the shore to begin God’s mission for him in Nineveh. Think of the many miracles that Jesus did? The feeding of the five thousand, the raising of Jairus’ daughter, the widow of Nain’s son and not forgetting Lazarus. Most important is the resurrection of Jesus by the Heavenly Father, he was seen by many people, even 500 at one time. (1 Cor.15:6)

This surely is a reminder of the Parable of the wise and foolish builders. (Matt.7:24‑27) The builder that constructed his house on the rock stood firm despite the rain, floods and winds and the house on the sand fell down. Peter understood that Jesus was the son of God and on that key doctrine a church could be built, beginning with Israel and after to all countries. Paul also indicated the import of building on the rock which is Jesus Christ with gold, silver and precious stones rather than with wood, hay, and stubble. (1 Cor.3:11‑12) But what is the sand or the wood, hay, and stubble? Could it be building with traditions and individual wishes?

Danger of Judaizers

Paul wrote to the brethren in the ecclesia in Galatia and one of his messages was to warn them against developing themselves under the old Law Covenant by circumcision of the flesh and through food and drink observance, rather than by faith in Christ Jesus. Hence by the use of the figures of Sarah and Hagar in Gal.3, he likened Hagar to those operating in bondage to the Law Covenant and Sarah to those who are according to the promise, which is by faith in Christ Jesus.

Storms of life

We cannot escape life’s difficulties which like weather can change according to the season and day‑to‑day, be it drought, heatwave, thunderstorms, and floods, or even snow and ice. In the spiritual life there can be trials of faith. Wind can figure war. There is the expression "the winds of war." Some lost their faith during the two World Wars of the last century, especially the first one when men were sent from both sides urged on by many preachers from the pulpit to fight for king and country only to witness great slaughter or lose their lives in foreign fields.

Daniel had conflict in his life which forced him into the lions’ den. In Daniel 6 King Darius of the Medes and Persians was tricked by some of his ministers into making a law that no one was to worship anyone but him for 30 days. Darius did not realise that the trap was for Daniel who worshipped Yahweh God and the law of the Medes and Persians made it impossible to change the law. Daniel openly prayed and worshipped God and was therefore thrown into the lions’ den. However, Daniel had faith that God could save him and was delivered to the joy of King Darius. Daniel’s accusers were then cast into that den and were torn into pieces.

In summary the scriptures state there is hope in the Christian message through faith and it is an anchor for the Christian every day. We see the import of hope and the saving power of faith. It’s not possible to save ourselves on our own and live eternally in health and good circumstances, but we have to have a good cable and place our anchor in a secure place not merely any place, which sustains us through the trials of life and leads us to the heavenly shore..

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is." (Heb.11:6)

NAC