Short and sweet thought for the week…
A song we often sang in church when I was a child had the phrase, “I’ve anchored my soul in the haven of rest. I’ll sail the wide sea no more.” Of course, I really didn’t know what it meant. I just liked the tune and the words. However, I learned that an anchor in the early church was very symbolic. It represented the hope they had in Jesus. Hebrews 6:19 (NIV) says, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…”
In biblical times, one of the main forms of transportation was by ship. When a ship reached its destination, an anchor was thrown overboard to keep it in position so it wouldn’t drift. The anchor was also used to stabilize a boat during a storm, to slow it down in turbulent waters. No wonder the author of Hebrews uses an anchor as a metaphor of hope and stability for our lives.
Early Christians understood this. They were persecuted and had to hide their faith, so symbols were very significant to them. They never lost their hope, even when forced to worship in underground Roman catacombs. Archaeologists confirm that one of the most common signs carved into the walls of those darkened chambers was an anchor. Even tombs of dead Christians had anchors chiseled on them.
Early Christians understood that although they experienced trials and turmoil in this world, their lives in Christ were secure. If we anchor our souls to Christ, we don’t have to worry about drifting away when the storms of life come. He will keep us centered and steady. We, too, can anchor our souls in God’s haven of rest. We can rest with assurance that our faithful God, who cannot lie, will fulfill His promises to us (Titus 1:2).
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul,
firm and secure…” ~Hebrews 6:19
