Hope: the Anchor of Our Soul

The Anchor has been a symbol of Christianity from the earliest days. Along with the Cross, the Bible, the Fish and the Crown among others we have plenty of items to design logos and make jewelry. The anchor is also widely used the world over to identify the sailors and officers who sail the seven seas in ships and boats. Metaphorically, the word is used frequently, whether we mean to fasten something down as with 'anchor bolts', or in sports, where it can mean either a deadbeat who weighs the team down or the steady one who holds the team together. My purpose is to share some thoughts on the only place in the Bible where the word is used metaphorically - Hebrews 6:19.

I find the fact that it occurs only one time metaphorically surprising considering the amount of space given to seafaring ways and fishing in Scripture. And the only other mention of the word is in Acts 27:29, 30 and 40, where literal anchors are mentioned in each case and always in the plural number. So we are left with the lone example in Hebrews 6:19. And what a beautiful verse it is!

Notice that the word hope is in italics in the King James Version of the Bible, this is a literary device used in most Bibles to alert the reader that it is a word that is not found in the original language but is added to complete the sense of the verse in English. It is properly placed in this instance since the word "which" clearly refers to the hope in verse 18. Notice also that the anchor symbolizes Hope, and not Faith or Love. We do have Love, back in verse 10. We also have Faith, in verse 12. And we have learned to expect these three to be joined in close proximity. Other places were Faith, Hope and Love are joined are Rom. 5:2-5, I Cor. 13:13, Gal. 5:5-6, Col. 1:4-5, I Thess. 1:3 and 5:8, Heb. 10:22-24 and I Pet. 1:21:22. So all three are obviously important and somewhat related. But just now, the author desires to focus our attention upon Hope. Perhaps in our day Hope needs to be set before our eyes in a more powerful way. The recipients of this Epistle certainly needed it.

This idea of hope as an anchor is one way to understand the difference between Faith and Hope. Hope is the earnest expectation of those things that we have not yet seen, and faith is the foundation and confidence upon which we rest until our hope is fulfilled. The anchor is already there, within the veil, but we have a good grip on the rope of faith.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Back into chapter 5 after speaking about Christ as a Son and as the Author of our Salvation and how He is a Priest after the order of Melchisedec, the author begins to give a concerned rebuke to a people who had been so long in the faith that they should have been teaching others the deeper things of God. Instead, they were always in need of basic instruction themselves. Chapter 6 opens with the warning about stagnation caused by failure to move on in the Lord. In 6:7 they are reminded that when the ground is fertile, the rains are plentiful, the seed is sown, and the ground is tended, the natural result is the blessing of produce received from God. In verse 8 that same ground with that same rain brings forth thorns and briers and is rejected. Let us thank God for verse 9 which is the only time in the Epistle where 'beloved' is used. It serves to express confidence that the readers are eventually going to be producers! Their past work and labor of love in His name justifies the future expectation that they will continue in His grace.

In verse 11 that Hope we are discussing comes up. And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end. The author has strong desire that each and every one of his readers will show the same diligence now that they did in the past, and will apply that ambition toward obtaining this full assurance of hope. Not 'lazy' (v.12), but ambitious followers, that is 'imitators' of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. God's promise backed by His oath guaranteed by His own immutability occupies verses 13 -18, concluding with the strong consolation and the strong comfort available to those of us who have ... fled for refuge to lay hold upon the HOPE set before us. Whenever I read these words, I am reminded of Adonijah in I Kings 1:50 and Joab in 2:28, both of whom were indeed fleeing the wrath of the King and 'caught hold on the horns of the altar' (with different results). Those horns represented a fair hearing for one charged with a crime. We flee for refuge to the One who is not adequately defined as fair but oh thank God, is infinitely beyond fair, He is merciful instead. When a human judge is fair, you get what you deserve. But our Judge is merciful, and the penalty due us is laid upon our Blessed Lord Jesus. All glory and honor to His Name!

Illustration: As a former New Jersey State Trooper, I would frequently hear from the speeder that I was about to ticket that it was not fair for law enforcement personnel to hide behind signs and buildings to trap the unwary speeder. My response was that it was indeed not fair, but it was just. Fair would be obtained by each speeding driver turning themselves in at the nearest barracks. Justice is when they fail to be honest and I catch them! (Nasty isn’t it?)

We lay hold upon the Hope set before us. Many do not see clearly just what the difference is between faith and hope. It is a very important matter! In fact, it is vital if one would endure to the end! Remember in chapter 11:6 that we must not only believe that He is but also that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Just so, we not only must believe that God in Christ has prepared a place for us, and that He will take us to be with Him some day, but we must hold fast with 'earnest expectation', i.e. Hope until that some day arrives.

Back to our Anchor. Even as the anchor holds the vessel steady and sure in rough seas, our hope will anchor the soul. Soul here represents the entire life of the individual. Where to cast the anchor? If it catches upon a rock the vessel will never move. Our anchor has indeed gripped a Solid Rock and that Rock is Jesus! It is a wonderful anchor because it reaches within the veil, behind that curtain which in the Temple represented death to anyone except the high priest who was permitted entry one a year and only then with great caution. Within that veil above we see our Forerunner Who has entered for us, our High Priest, eternal, after the order of Melchisedec. Glory to God! Our Forerunner Who "ran" where no man could ever run! Right on through death, the grave, hell and the atmosphere! There He is right now, making intercession for us!!

Do you have this hope? Please do not be lazy but be diligent to lay hold of the Anchor of Hope. Anchor your soul in the Haven of Rest.