Permanently Anchored.

April 12, 2023

I can’t remember where I took this photo, but I always wondered just how long that boat stayed anchored in its location. And I can’t say for sure, but my guess is that this boat is more or less, permanently moored.

In this case, the buoy is connected by a chain to a permanent anchor resting on, or buried in, the water’s floor. The chain is likely a series of two chains, one heavy attached to the anchor, and a lighter, more floatable, chain connected to the buoy. The chains allow the buoy to move around a controlled area, thus keeping the boat in the same area. Each connection point is allowed to swivel so wind, waves, and tidal actions don’t overstress the system.

When the owner takes the boat out, they disconnect the boat from the buoy. The buoy remains in the same area, attached to the anchor. Upon return, the boat can once again be moored in the same location. I find this fascinating as I’d always thought boats were permanently docked, or temporarily anchored.

The cool thing is, the boat’s owner has confidence that even though their vessel is sitting out in the open, it is anchored, not allowed to drift aimlessly about. The boat doesn’t get lost, damaged, or sunk.

You and I can have that same confidence. In a spiritual sense, that confidence is called hope.

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 6:19-20, NIV)

These verses can be a little confusing if we don’t spend a minute on them. The writer’s intent is to encourage believers. And what is more encouraging than hope? In the Bible, hope is a strong and confident expectation. Our hope provides us with the confident expectation that all God’s promises are true. Everything He promised in the past has come true and all future promises will come true.

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This hope we have, is an anchor. Much like the boat’s permanent anchoring, the writer of Hebrews tells us the anchor for our soul is firm and secure. Our anchor won’t move. It will keep us from drifting aimlessly. We won’t get lost, damaged, or sunk in this evil world we live in.

The verses go on to say we have our hope anchored in Jesus. Jesus, who lived a sinless life, died, and was resurrected in three days, has gone before us. He is our forerunner. The NIV Bible says, “…he enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.” This means Jesus went before us to where God is. He is with God, intervening on our behalf.

A few verses earlier, the writer reminded us that God is unchanging and is unable to lie. You can’t get any more firm and secure than placing your hope in a God who cannot change or lie. You can count on all His promises.

That’s why we can be confident in our salvation. We have an assurance of being with God after we die (we are saved from eternal separation due to our sin nature).

That is, if you are anchored to the one who can save you—Jesus. If you’ve recognized your sins, turned from them to Jesus, and accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, you have that hope.

Do you feel like you are drifting? Are you a little damaged from what is happening to you or around you? Do you have a sense of sinking?

Become permanently anchored to the One who has gone before you. He is your hope. Let me know if you want to know more about accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior.