Anchor for our soul

Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Hebrews 6:16-19

Confidence in self or others is an inconsistent commodity. It is often completely dominated by feelings and wishful thinking. The writer of Hebrews bases his confidence in the past experiences of believers who faithfully followed God. But there are believers in the past that started well but never completed the task. Faced with such despondence, the writer of Hebrews encouraged these believers with this; “Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent” (vv. 11-12). For the subtle tendency to slip back under pressure, there are two great truths to grasp for a remedy. In the first place there is the promise of God; “God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind.” God will always be true to His promise. God is constant and will never change. Then “hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.” Not only do we have the promise of God, but also we have the very presence of Christ to strengthen us. That presence is Jesus in his high priestly role in heaven itself. “It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.” Thus, the believer’s hope, which springs from his confidence in God’s promises, is the firm anchor for his soul. It gives security and stability to our spiritual lives.

Blessings