Category: 2020

 Hope: “to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence..” (Dictionary.com)

Anchor: “any of various devices dropped by a chain, cable, or rope to the bottom of a body of water for preventing or restricting the motion of a vessel or other floating object, typically having broad, hooklike arms that bury themselves in the bottom to provide a firm hold. (Dictionary.com)

We can’t see hope. It’s invisible, intangible, and hidden from our eyes. How can we compare hope to an anchor which we can see; something tangible, heavy, rusty, and they sink to the bottom of the ocean. Let’s try to unfurl this sail to get a more clear comparison.

When Paul wrote the book of Hebrews, he wasn’t saying that hope is literally like an anchor. Paul is comparing what an anchor does for ships to what hope can does for us, for our hearts. An anchor provides stability for the ship that is being tossed around on a turbulent ocean, holding the ship steady and keeping it on course. And interestingly, an anchor is working when it is not seen, much like our Hope, Jesus, who is unseen. “Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” – John 20:29 (NIV). When the anchor is under the water and pitched into the ocean floor it’s “providing a firm hold,” that’s when it’s working!

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.”

Hebrews 6:19 (NKJV)

God is our Anchor, He is our Hope! We can’t see God but we are assured of His presence by His Word, when we see the stars in the night sky, and when we see all of creation.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, …” John 1:1

“In the beginning God created…” Genesis 1:1

“I will never leave you or forsake you.”Deuteronomy 31:8, there are at least 100 verses about God never leaving us or forsaking us.

God goes before us in our trials. He sees the storm before it is formed. He is waiting for us at the victory line. In the midst of the trials and at finish line, God is working in the unseen, behind the scenes. I know it can be hard to trust sometimes. We can trust God when we are anchored in Him. He is our only hope in this world. He is our hope for spending eternity in Heaven with Him. Not our works, not our good deeds, because let’s face it there is nothing good in us, we have all fallen short, missed the mark. Romans 3:23 – “… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” But it’s the shed blood of God’s only begotten Son, Jesus that can bridge the gap to get us to Heaven.

God knew before the beginning of time we as sinners were going to need a Savior to save us from the penalty of sin, hell, eternal separation from God. He saw what we needed. He sent His one and only Son to die on a cross for our sins and rise from the grave on the third day. Not only did God provide a sacrifice for us, a way to enter His kingdom, He is providing more! John 14:3 – And when (if) I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. (AMPC) He is preparing Heaven for us!!! More than we can imagine! More than we can ask. Who wants to spend eternity in hell separated from God? Who doesn’t want to spend eternity with God in all His glory where there is no more sin, no more sorrow, no more pain, where all the injustices are made right?

In what are you anchored? Where do drop your anchor? In your deeds? Your wealth? Your health? Relationships? Possessions? Career? All those things can be gone in a flash. But if we are anchored in God’s Word, that will never pass away, Matthew 24:35 – “Sky and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” (AMPC)

More resources

The Case for Christ, God’s Not Dead and God’s Not Dead 2 all can be found on Amazon, book or video.

Beloved: The Last Supper is about how God is preparing Heaven for us

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Credits: Photo by Lynda Hinton on Unsplash

My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him.

Psalm 62:5

Come and rest as you are. It’s an invitation from God. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11: 28-30 (NIV)

When we receive an invitation, be it through mail, email, text or social media, which seems to be the norm in this digital age, we usually react with joy. (Ok admit it, you’ve rolled your eyes at some invitations and didn’t want to go. We have all been there.) However, regardless of your reaction, you’ve made the decision to go and that usually involves some kind of planning, rearranging schedules, time conflicts, maybe a shopping trip for a gift or a new outfit depending on the occasion. We wonder who else will be there, is there a car pool, maybe it involves baking or cooking.

Jesus invites us to come to Him as we are. And to do it daily. We have an open invitation and we don’t need to dress a certain way, we don’t need to cook, shop, or even clean the house, no planning transportation. As a matter of fact He meets us where we are. If we allow Him into our day, into our lives, into the mundane daily activities, He will meet us in the messy, unorganized, chaotic, confused anxious parts of our lives.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28-30

So, let’s look at “Come to Jesus and He meets us”. He asks us to come to Him and He will show up to meet us as we are. Jesus will respect our space. Even though He is always with us – Emmanuel, God with us. It’s part of His character. Like God is love, that’s who He is, being omnipresent is part of His character. He does call out us and He continually knocks at the door of our hearts. But, He won’t enter unless we open the door and let Him in. He then meets us right there. If we open the door to him in our house, in our car, at work, shopping, in the hospital, wherever we are, He is there ready to enter your life, your heart. We don’t have to clean up, dress, up, tidy up, just open the door, say yes to following Him and allow Him into every part of your heart.

“But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge …”

Psalms 73:28 (NIV)

Jesus’ invitation to us, becomes an invitation to Him, to be near to Him, to enter our lives and our hearts no matter the condition and He will give us rest.

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