“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Hebrews 6:19
Anyone who enjoys boating is well aware of how necessary it is to have a decent anchor. From rowboats to large ships, anchors are necessary to provide a firm hold on the vessel, keeping the boat from drifting into undesirable water.
Anchors have been a necessity for thousands of years. At first, a rope was tied to a large rock that served as the boat’s anchor. Those mentioned in the Bible were likely made of a long wooden “shank” with two iron “flukes” extending at the bottom.
Biblical archeologists tell us that during the days of the early Christian church, the symbol of an anchor was used more often than that of the cross. Several drawings of anchors have been found on the walls of the Roman catacombs or underground cemeteries. The term anchor is mentioned seven times in the NIV Bible. Five times it appears in Acts 27, describing the Apostle Paul’s difficult trip to Rome.
Our reference from Hebrews uses the term in a figurative way, showing the hope we have when we are firmly connected to the Lord. “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19). When we place our trust in Jesus, we are able to withstand the storms of life that may pull and tug us in every direction. Though tossed about during life’s most treacherous tempests, we can rest assured that our anchor will hold. God will secure us safely in his loving arms. Today our faith and hope are still anchored in the promise of salvation and a brighter future in heaven.
From the book “Precious Words of the Bible” by Reynold R. Kremer