Hebrews 6:19 “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;”
An “anchor” holds a ship in place to keep it from drifting away. The focus of our “hope” is Jesus Christ and His promise of Eternal Life in Heaven with Him! When deployed, this “hope” is “both sure and stedfast”; that is, it holds us close to the Lord so that we will not drift away into sin and false doctrines, into discouragement, or into despair. This blessed “anchor of the soul” is stronger than all the temptations and tribulations of this present life; for, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” (II Corinthians 4:8-10). The devil cannot possibly rob our “soul” of its Eternal Life in Heaven, but if our “anchor” comes loose in this present life, he can surely trouble our “soul” and make our life miserable. This blessed “hope” is said to be “an anchor of the soul” because the “soul” is the very essence of life. It is said of Rachel, “it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died)” (Genesis 35:18); that is, her very life was leaving her; when it left, her body was dead. Thus, this “hope” anchors our “soul” (life) to a life of pleasant obedient service to our Lord; for in our Spiritual Minds, the majesty, joy, peace, and comfort of this “hope” is stronger and more resilient than all the temptations and troubles this present world can cast upon us. Paul explains how this “anchor” works: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8). People will start drifting away when they become distracted and quit thinking “on these things”, for when they quit thinking “on these things” their “anchor” comes loose, and they drift away into sin and error. Then, when the stormy troubles of life rise up, the folks with loose anchors are blown away and their lives crash into ruin and misery. On the other hand, the more we think on the Lord and His sure promise, the stronger and more resilient we become; that is, our “anchor” will hold no matter how strong the devil’s enticements are or how severe the storms of life become. Thus, we rest in the “anchor”-truth that “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3)! So, let us flee “unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16), flee to the House of God (Hebrews 10:25), flee to the Word of God, and flee into the loving arms of our “good Shepherd” (John 10:11); for there is where our “anchor” is made strong and we find “perfect peace”!