Will Your Anchor Hold?
As we continue through life, we all utilize metaphors to describe various aspects of, or things in our lives. Those who seem to be “out of their natural element” are often described as a “duck out of water”. So, when asked if your anchor will hold, one need not look for a tangible (or actual) device to accomplish this. An anchor defined is: a heavy object attached to a rope or chain and used to moor a vessel to the sea bottom, typically one having a metal shank with a ring at one end for the rope and a pair of curved and/or barbed flukes at the other. When this question is asked, we should look to see what it is that fulfills the deeper meaning of the anchor - security, stability, and being grounded.
What is it that provides the needed “security”, “stability”, and grounding one needs spiritually? The answer to this question should be easy, but too many seem to fail to be properly “anchored”. Hope in God’s Word is the answer as Colossians 1:23 declares. If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Yet, many look to other sources for their hope. The things of the world cannot provide the stability needed, nor the promise of life beyond this one. 2Peter 3:10 tells us the physical things of the world will be destroyed when the trumpet sounds. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Also, as the Spirit had Paul write in 1Corinthians 3:19, that even the intangible things of this world are ineffective as an anchor for the soul. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. The world’s wisdom will also be destroyed with the world.
The Word of God is that in which we are to be anchored. 1Peter 1:25 points out that God’s Word will last forever. But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. Now that we have established in what we are to be anchored, let us make sure we understand that each of us have responsibility in this.
Since the Word is sure, steadfast and unfailing, if our anchor does not hold, who’s fault is it? It has to be ours. If we are in a boat, and toss the anchor out on smooth solid rock, it won’t catch, let alone hold. That is why it is so important to be anchored in the gospel, the Word of God. Once our anchor is in the Word of God, the only one that can release it is us!
Having spent some time on the water, I know that the anchor rope has to become “slack” before the anchor can be released. As long as the vessel or boat maintains the “pull” on the anchor, if it is properly seated, the anchor will not release. Apply this spiritually and we should see that we (the vessel) must maintain the proper tightness on the anchor, that which keeps us properly “moored” or connected to God. When we become “slack” or fail to do as we should, we allow our anchor to slip. When that happens, we drift just as a vessel on the water does. This could be devastating. From a spiritual standpoint, it is eternally disastrous. Perhaps this is why we have so many passages warning Christians to hold fast, or to stand fast. Is this not what a properly engaged anchor does, hold fast?
In Philippians 1:27 the Spirit had Paul write to these brethren so they would remain properly anchored. Only let your conversation (manner of life) be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, (the Word of God) with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; The same applies to us. This same idea was directed toward the brethren in Corinth in 1Corintians 16:13. It reads: Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. The word “quit” here means they should act, or conduct themselves as men. The point is that if they stand fast in the faith, they can remain strong. In fact, 1Thessalonians 3:8 tells us we are “alive” (spiritually) if we stand fast in Christ. For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
The elders (bishops) are also to have the characteristic of “stability” as they “hold fast” the Word of God. Titus 1:9 tells us this and also tells us how the elders (and all others) can defend the Word of God if they hold it fast. Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. Then there are the israelite Christians in Hebrews 10:23 who were exhorted to remain anchored in their profession. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) Many more places could be cited, but these should be sufficient to show that we have full control of our stability.
“Will your anchor hold in the storms of life, When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?” Don’t become slack and let your anchor drift. The result of doing so is becoming separated from the Lord. If you are not anchored in Christ, obey the gospel today and then remain connected to the Lord. Seek the strength and stability in His Word so you can always be faithful.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
