Scripture: “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;” – Hebrews 6:19
Examination of Chapter: Hebrews 6 is urging believers to move beyond their initial foray into faith and to cultivate a deeper, richer relationship with God. The writer emphasizes that God always keeps His Word; He never lies, and He is the same now as He was when He made the Abrahamic covenant. By developing a more mature faith, the believers will come to understand the promises that God has made and will be able to depend upon them.
Application: I have a flower garden that is blooming quite beautifully right now. Unfortunately, so are the weeds! It is a constant battle keeping them from intruding into the rich fertile soil in which my flowers are thriving. I find that if I catch them early, they are easy to pull from the ground, but if I miss some, and they get anchored into the soil, they often break off, leaving the roots intact and able to grow a new weed. Being anchored with strong roots assures a plant, flower or weed, it won’t be easily removed from its spot.
That’s the same way it is with our faith in Christ. We need to be solidly anchored in the Word of God, so that we don’t become easy prey for Satan and the world to rip us from the fertile path of faith. So, how does one become anchored in their faith?
Romans 10:17 states, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” The place to start is with reading the Bible. The more a person reads the Scriptures, the stronger their faith becomes! As we study the Word of God, we become more and more like the wise man who built his house upon the rock. A metaphor for life, the wise man is anchored on a solid rock upon which no storm can destroy. Conversely, the foolish man built his life upon sand, meaning there is no substantial foundation for that in which he chooses to believe. This man would be easily swayed by circumstances, social media, celebrities, etc. (Matthew 7:24-27). He is missing the deep roots of faith to keep him anchored to Jesus in times of trouble or temptations.
Psalm 18:2 states, “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” This is the Rock upon which we are anchored when we trust Christ as our Saviour. He is unmovable and unchanging; He is all-powerful and all-knowing; He is our stronghold and our refuge. When I am anchored in Him, I cannot be uprooted. Satan, the world, and my sinful nature constantly wants to uproot me from the garden of my Christian faith.
I become more deeply rooted in my beliefs as God’s Word continually fertilizes my faith with its wisdom, truth, and power, and it grows stronger and more sure. Being anchored in Christ provides security in the knowledge that in Him, I am nurtured and cultivated by the Spirit of God to grow a faith that cannot be uprooted by the temptations of the culture or the lies of the devil. When I am anchored in Jesus, the Solid Rock, I am able to blossom in my Christian walk, and I cannot be uprooted from the saving grace and truth of God’s Word.
Moments with God: Dearest heavenly Father, keep me grounded in Your Word. Help me to not only read it, but study it, meditate upon it, and hide it in my heart that I might not sin against You. In Jesus’ precious name, amen.