When I was around eight Dad, Mom, my grandmother, my brothers and I had taken our sailboat to Masonboro Island - now that was when you had the island all to yourself. You saw very few if any people. And yes it was wonderful! We had walked over to the ocean and when we came back our boat was gone. We saw it crossing the inlet to the south end of Wrightsville Beach. Dad jumped in the water to go to the boat. I do not know how he did it but he had to pull the boat to us because we could not cross the inlet. Mom had us go as deep as we could and still walk to meet Dad. Finally, Dad picked us up. I remember Mom and Mamal being so worried about Dad pulling the boat in the current. He was a strong swimmer and he had great respect for the water but this was dangerous. The inlet was not full of boats like today so not only was no one there to run you over but there was no one there to help you. The anchor had not held in that current.
One Sunday at church we sang, "Cornerstone" and the following words spoke to me.
"Christ alone, Cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Savior's love Through the storm He is Lord Lord of all ...In every high and stormy gale My anchor holds within the veil"
An anchor provides strength and support, keeping the ship from drifting. But an anchor does nothing for a boat unless it is tied with a rope. I have seen someone throw the anchor over and realize that the end was not tied to the boat. They just lost the anchor and the rope. Just like that rope, our faith needs to be firmly attached to the anchor of hope.
The veil is the place of holiness where we get to go when Jesus is Lord of our life. He holds us close - in the most sacred place. He holds us where we can have peace that passes all understanding. He holds us in a place where the impossible is possible. He holds us where his glory shines all around us. The anchor holds us within that holy ground!
Hope is not an emotion, it is so much more! Hope is the confident expectation of what God has promised and its strength is in His faithfulness. Hope anchors our soul because we know we are being held tight. We know God has promised His faithfulness and He will not let us go! Hebrews 6: 19, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,..." Hope is what can move us through our struggles and hurts and into peace and freedom. Isaiah 43: 2, " When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you." Remember in Hebrews 13: 5, "...God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'"
We will have stormy nights where we feel like we are being dashed against the rocks and we are praying for daylight. Acts 27: 29, "Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight." God has equipped you with hope as an anchor for your soul. Hope means we can be confident based on God's promises that He will fulfill His Word. God has promised you eternal salvation through Jesus Christ. That salvation is now and forever.
Jesus went through life and He has gone before us. He pulls us to Himself. He wants us within the veil. He wants us to use our faith as our rope to hold on to the best Anchor there is. We will not be without struggles but when we have them our faith will jump overboard into our mess and find that rock and keep us anchored til the storm passes.
Are you anchored in the veil?
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