“We Have An Anchor!”
June 5, 2012
Anchor at Lifesaving Station Museum in Ocean City, MD
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“We Have An Anchor!”
We’re enjoying a couple days of vacation in Rehoboth Beach Delaware. When Brooksyne and I visit an ocean area we enjoy seeing not just the ocean itself but sights related to the ocean such as anchors and lighthouses. We don’t see these sights inland except as decorative features like the one on display at an antique store near Campbelltown PA or as replicas like our solar powered lighthouse flower planter (not quite the same however)!
The anchor serves a ship much like the parking brake serves a car, but it also holds symbolic meaning for the believer. Contemplate this thought-provoking quote, “In order to realize the worth of the anchor, one needs to feel the stress of the storm.” Faith is put to the test and best demonstrated during the deepest of trials.
How thankful we should be for the blessed anchor of hope we have in Jesus! This anchor is firm and secure. The daily verse is the only place in the Bible where the word “anchor” is used figuratively. It is used literally in Acts 27 during Paul’s shipwreck. The Greek word is Aγκυρα is pronounced “ankura” (our English is merely a transliteration of this word). The anchor was used in the Greek world as a picture for hope.
Believers all throughout the ages have received assurance in their hearts as they consider the security an anchor provides in the midst of battering storms. I am so gripped by the early part of the daily verse, “We who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.” This hope is what the believer has “fled to take hold of.” The worldly sources of hope are temporal and short sighted. The hope Jesus offers is the only true and lasting source of hope. 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.”
There are two qualities to this anchor of hope that may seem similar in the English, but indeed express two complimentary truths. It’s as if the Holy Spirit wants to make it absolutely clear to us just how dependable this anchor is! The two words, firm and secure, have a different focus. The first is outward, the second inward.*
Today we want to encourage you to take hold of the anchor that is immovable. It will weather the worst storm. Truly, this anchor of hope we have in Jesus Christ is firm and secure! Rest in this blessed assurance today. Perhaps you’re in that wind-tossed storm right now. Or there may be a storm on the horizon. God and His Word provide the steady anchor and sure foundation. 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).
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, help us not to resent the storms of life or be fearful of their effects. Much like we prepare for a ravaging storm by anchoring valuables to a firm foundation, help us to anchor our hearts in the firm foundation of Your Word that will help us to withstand the testings and trials of life that are certain to come our way. Even as a ship is proven to be seaworthy over its lifetime, may our faith be proven trustworthy as we hold onto You, the Anchor for our soul. Amen.
* Linguistic Key to the Greek New Testament
Here’s a quote that has blessed me written about 350 years ago by Jeremy Taylor. It fully embraces the timetable of the Gospel journey and is a great focus for the believer using in part a nautical theme:
Hope is his anchor,
Death is his harbor,
Christ is his pilot,
And heaven is his country.”
Plaque beside anchor featured as lead photo
Lifesaving boat in the museum.
Randy Hofman creates sand sculptures along the Ocean City boardwalk as a witness.
Poster World is the tackiest looking store along the Ocean City boardwalk.
Driving off the bridge onto Assateague Island we saw a wild pony.
The ponies roam the island freely and the evidence of their deposits on the road reminded us of Lancaster County!
On the bay side they feed on the salt grasses in the marsh.
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?
Chorus
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.
Verse 2
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 that blast, thro’ strength divine.
Verse 3
It will firmly hold in the straits of fear,
When the breakers have told the reef is near;
Tho’ the tempest rave and the wild winds blow,
Not an angry wave shall our bark o’erflow.
Verse 4
When our eyes behold thro’ the gath’ring night
The city of gold, our harbor bright,
We shall anchor fast by the heav’nly shore,
With the storms all past forevermore.
“I’ve Anchored In Jesus” Video Pilgrim Hymns We used to sing this from the old brown hymnal!
“Anchored In Love” Video Carter family
Ocean City Lifesaving Museum
Ocean City sand sculptures
Assateague Island
More Assateague Island wild pony photos
Here’s the anchor I mentioned in today’s message for sale at an antique shop along Rt. 322 in Campbelltown, PA. I think it would look great in our front yard but Brooksyne isn’t going along with me on this one!
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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