AN ANCHOR FOR LIFE
Have you ever felt that you needed an anchor for your life? That the storms of life were trying to smash you on the rocks? For some people, it might be family problems. For others, it might be the loss of a job, the death of a loved one, or a serious illness.
Such trials can overwhelm us like a wave that crashes upon a ship. Gone are the memories of peaceful sailing on smooth seas—all we can think of for the moment is the trial we are in right now. Will we survive, or will we sink? Sometimes the turmoil is so great that sinking doesn’t seem that bad of an option!
To weather the storms of life, we need an anchor to keep us in place, to keep us from being swept toward the rocky shore, to keep us from capsizing and sinking. What is our anchor?
The book of Hebrews tells us that we have an anchor—the sure hope of salvation through Jesus Christ.
The book of Hebrews tells us that we have an anchor—the sure hope of salvation through Jesus Christ. This is the hope set before us, the hope that greatly encourages us. “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:18-19).
Verse 20 tells us that this hope enters the presence of God in heaven, where Jesus is already helping us. Our hope of eternal life is anchored in heaven, where the storms of this life can never sink our ship! Our salvation is safe and secure.
The storms still come, though, and rage around us. The waves beat on us, but we need not fear—our anchor is in the unsinkable heavens. Our lives are safeguarded by Jesus himself. Our anchor will keep our lives safe—as long as life itself will last. That means forever! We have an anchor for life, a point of stability when life gets rough. Don’t wait for the storms to begin—anchor your life in Jesus now!
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Parable Of Stability
Jesus taught something similar in the Sermon on the Mount:
Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. (Matthew 7:24-27)
Jesus describes two groups of people: those who follow him, and those who don’t. Both types of people build good-looking houses. Both types of people can appear to have their lives in order. But the storms of life strike them both, and the houses are tested not so much for how they look on the outside, but how well they are built underneath.
Listening to Jesus does not prevent the rain, water and wind—the problems of life—but it does prevent collapse. When the storms of life beat upon us, we need some solid foundations to keep us steady.
Jesus advises us to build our lives not just on hearing his words, but on putting them into practice. We need more than the name of Jesus—we need a willingness to do what he says, to trust him not just with the future, but to trust him in life right now.
If we hear the words but do not obey what Jesus says, our lives might look good on the surface. But eventually the trials come, and our lives can fall apart, or become unraveled or capsize—choose whichever metaphor you want. The point is that life works best when we do what Jesus says.
Jesus does not force us to obey, but he gives us a choice. He tells us what will happen if we don’t. Our behavior shows whether we believe him, and whether we trust him.
Have you at any point felt that you required a stay for your life? That the tempests of life were attempting to crush you on the stones? For a few people, it may be family issues. For others, it may be the passing of a vocation, the demise of a friend or family member, or a genuine disease.
Such trials can overpower us like a wave that accidents upon a ship. Gone are the recollections of tranquil cruising on smooth oceans—everything we can consider for the minute is the trial we are in this moment. Will we survive, or will we sink? Now and then the turmoil is great to the point that sinking doesn't appear that awful of a choice!
To climate the tempests of life, we require a stay to keep us set up, to shield us from being cleared toward the rough shore, to shield us from inverting and sinking. What is our grapple?
The book of Hebrews reveals to us that we have a stay—the beyond any doubt any expectation of salvation through Jesus Christ.
The book of Hebrews reveals to us that we have a stay—the beyond any doubt any expectation of salvation through Jesus Christ. This is the expectation set before us, the expectation that extraordinarily energizes us. "We have this expectation as a grapple for the spirit, firm and secure" (Hebrews 6:18-19).
Verse 20 reveals to us that this expectation enters the nearness of God in paradise, where Jesus is now helping us. Our expectation of unceasing life is tied down in paradise, where the tempests of this life can never sink our ship! Our salvation is protected and secure.
The tempests still come, however, and seethe around us. The waves beat on us, however we require not fear—our stay is in the resilient sky. Our lives are shielded by Jesus himself. Our grapple will protect our lives—as long as life itself will last. That implies until the end of time! We have a stay forever, a state of solidness when life gets unpleasant. Try not to sit tight for the tempests to start—stay your life in Jesus now!
Anecdote Of Steadiness
Jesus showed something comparative in the Sermon on the Mount:
Everybody who hears these expressions of mine and places them into training resembles an insightful man who assembled his home on the stone. The rain descended, the streams rose, and the breezes blew and beat against that house; yet it didn't fall, since it had its establishment on the stone. Be that as it may, everybody who hears these expressions of mine and does not incorporate them resembles an absurd man who manufactured his home on sand. The rain descended, the streams rose, and the breezes blew and beat against that house, and it fell with an awesome crash. (Matthew 7:24-27)
Jesus portrays two gatherings of individuals: the individuals who tail him, and the individuals who don't. The two sorts of individuals assemble gorgeous houses. The two sorts of individuals can seem to have their lives all together. In any case, the tempests of life strike them both, and the houses are tried less for what they look like outwardly, yet how well they are worked underneath.
Tuning in to Jesus does not keep the rain, water and wind—the issues of life—however it prevents fall. At the point when the tempests of life beat upon us, we require some strong establishments to keep us consistent.
Jesus encourages us to assemble our lives not simply on hearing his words, but rather on placing them into training. We require more than the name of Jesus—we require an ability to do what he says, to believe him not simply with the future, but rather to believe him in life at the present time.
On the off chance that we hear the words however don't obey what Jesus says, our lives may look great at first glance. Be that as it may, in the long run the trials come, and our lives can come apart, or progress toward becoming disentangled or overturn—pick whichever allegory you need. The fact is that life works best when we do what Jesus says.
Jesus does not drive us to comply, but rather he gives us a decision. He discloses to us what will happen in the event that we don't. Our conduct demonstrates whether we trust him, and whether we believe him.