that sail the seas. Those things weigh a ton! When they are dropped into the water, there
is no way that ship is going to move. I've been thinking a lot about anchors the past few
days.
The dictionary definition of an anchor is as follows; "Heavy iron instrument by which a
ship is held fast to the sea-bottom; to weigh down; to stop." The two things that came
to my mind concerning an anchor is, to hold fast, and to keep from drifting.
Here is a little bit of history about anchors. The ancient anchors were made of big
rocks; sometimes rocks were put into a huge basket to act as an anchor. There is
also a permanent anchor which is called a mooring, this is an anchor that is not
moved. There are many different kinds of anchors; Northill, Plough, Delta, Fluke,
Claw, Mushroom, Deadweight and Screw, to name a few. However the most
important anchor is not mentioned in this list...Jesus Christ.
We as Christians have been given an anchor for our souls, the Lord Jesus Christ. The
Lord will hold fast to us and keep us from drifting away, He is a sure mooring. Just as
a ship is held fast to the bottom of the sea, we are held fast in the loving, protective
arms of our Lord.
Hebrews 6:19a "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and
stedfast,"
When the storms of life are engulfing us and the waves of despair and hopelessness
are crashing over us, we have an anchor that is stedfast and sure. You see, not only
is our Savior our anchor, He is also the One, who not only created the storms, but has
already traveled through the storms, and He is in control of them.
Psalms 89:9 "Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise,
Thou stillest them."
Psalms 107:25 "For He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which
lifteth up the waves thereof."
He knows the way. We can trust our lives into His safe keeping. Psalms 77:19 tells
us that, "Thy way is in the sea, and Thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps
are not known."
I like the fact that ancient anchors were made of rocks. Our anchor is the ROCK!
Deuteronomy 32:4 "He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are
judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He."
Psalms 31:3 "For Thou art my Rock, and my fortress, therefore for Thy name's
sake, lead me, and guide me."
When we are anchored to the Rock, we shall not be moved! What is it that connects
the anchor to the ship? Huge iron cables. Those cables do the work between the ship
and the anchor, they bear the stress as the currents and tides swell against them. As
Christians we have the cross that connects us to our Anchor. There is no storm strong
enough to break the connection that the cross has made between our needy hearts and
the Lord Jesus Christ. The work that was done on that old rugged cross ensured our
salvation. Without the cross we would have no anchor for our souls.
Galatians 6:14 "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our
Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the
world."
Don't get things mixed up though and worship the cross instead of the Savior! The
cable is just pieces of iron until its connected with the anchor; the cross was just a
piece of wood until it held the Savior. The cable is needed and the cross was needed.
The anchor also keeps the ship from drifting away in the waves of a storm or even
just in the gentle coming and going of the tides. As Christians we are in danger of
drifting away. The storms of life can cause us to break away from the anchor. How
you ask...well, unless you've been doing regular maintenance on the equipment it
might not hold well in a storm.
Have you been faithful in your devotions, are you keeping in close communion with
your Savior? If you have, the storms will not hinder you or cause you to drift away.
But if you've been neglecting your Bible reading and prayer time, you will find yourself
floundering in the trials and problems that can take you unaware. Notice something
here... in a storm, it's the ship that moves, not the anchor!
Sometimes it's not the storm that moves us, but we can become adrift in the calm seas
as well. We are in constant danger of being lulled into a sense of false security, we let
down our guard and are taken unaware by Satan. We are surrounded by counterfeit
gospel and false teachers. The world stands ready to entice us with the pleasures of
sin for a season. Unless we stand on guard we can all of a sudden find ourselves
drifting in a sea filled with dangers we are unprepared to defend against.
Ephesians 4:14 "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro,
and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the slight of men, and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive:"
Today, maybe you are facing an overwhelming storm in your life. Hold tight to
your anchor, the Lord Jesus. When you hold tight to the Rock of your salvation,
He will bring you into your desired haven. Psalms 107:28 - 30 "Then they cry
unto the LORD in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses.
He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they
glad because they be quiet; so He bringeth them unto their desired haven."
Perhaps you are drifting, unaware in calm water, unprepared for the dangers that
lurk under the guise of peace around you. Remember it's you, not the Lord that has
moved! Get into your Bible, ask the Lord's forgiveness and make sure of your
mooring once again. We have an anchor that will keep our soul...praise God!
Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift or firm remain?
It is safely moored, 'twill the storm withstand,
For 'tis well secured by the Savior's hand;
And the cables passed from His heart to mine,
Can defy the blast, through strength divine.
It will firmly hold in the straits of fear,
When the breakers have told the reef is near;
Though the tempest rave and the wild winds blow,
Not an angry wave shall our bark o'erflow.
It will surely hold in the floods of death,
When the waters cold chill our latest breath;
On the rising tide it can never fail,
While our hopes abide within the veil.
When our eyes behold through the gathering night,
The city of gold, our harbor bright;
We shall anchor fast by the Heavenly shore,
With the storms all past forevermore.
When our eyes behold through the gathering night,
The city of gold, our harbor bright;
We shall anchor fast by the Heavenly shore,
With the storms all past forevermore.
We have an anchor that keeps the soul,
Stedfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love.
Priscilla J. Owens
Priscilla J. Owens
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