The Hope
In our weakness, He is made strong by our Hope in Him.
The Hope
By K. Lewis
Hebrews 6:19 reads, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm, and secure.” The “hope” this Scripture speaks about is the certainty that we will receive our inheritance through salvation.
I knew what a physical anchor was, but felt compelled to look up the definition anyway, and I wanted to share the blessing of that discovery! The word, anchor, is just as powerful as an actual ship’s anchor needs to be in order to keep it immovable, no matter how strong the waves or wind. This word isn’t just the noun that we are all familiar with when we think of boats and ships. It can also speak of a person that provides strength and support, a large store, and an anchor is also a broadcaster. Let’s see what those things mean to us practically.
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A person that provides strength and support: I’m sure we can all think of people in our lives who have been our “anchors” through many storms and challenges. We can all also think of times when we felt alone and prayed / wished there was an anchor around to support us in the hard times. If we think of an anchor this way, it makes Hebrews 6:19 read so much more powerfully. Hope is the anchor, which means Hope is the person who keeps us supported and steady, no matter what’s going on in our life. “Hope has a name, and that name is Jesus”. He is our Savior, who stands at the right hand of Father God, continually interceding for us. Why wouldn’t we put our trust in Him to keep us strong and secure? If you are feeling like you are being tossed about in life, it’s time to put your anchor down; meaning, release Jesus to be what He can be in your life and wants to be in your life. You do this simply by inviting Him to be your anchor, and trusting in the plans He has for you.
A large store: This large store attracts customers and other businesses to an area (like a shopping mall). If hope is the anchor, then hope becomes the landmark that makes an area attractive to others. Our hope in Jesus should be so obvious that it becomes the landmark that attracts people to living according to His will. Our hope in Him must be seen, visible, both in our actions and in our words. If no one knows where our hope lies, then perhaps we are not trusting in that Hope like we should. Now would be a good time to examine your life, pray, and ask Holy Spirit to show you the ways in which your life has been a landmark in this world, pointing people to Jesus. If there is no response, don’t be discouraged, don’t let guilt and shame have their way, and don’t doubt your salvation. Just invite your Savior, Jesus, in to be your anchor so that He can be visible to others through you.
Think of that invitation to Him as another step in your growth as a child of God. If Holy Spirit has shown you that you are indeed a landmark, then pray and ask for more opportunities to be seen and heard by others so that He is glorified! We are called to show Him off, to make His name famous!
Broadcaster: We all watch the news, so we are familiar with that term; or more specifically, the terms anchorman or anchorwoman. The news anchor introduces reports by others reads the news. Wow! If hope is the anchor, then hope becomes the broadcaster of the Good News of Jesus Christ! Our hope announces who He is and what He means to the world, not just through the “right now” news of how He shows up in our every days lives, but also through the reports of others. What are those reports?
They are the 66 books of the Bible, divinely inspired by Holy Spirit, and written by Men of God to be shared with the world. How is your Bible reading and Bible study going? We can’t be broadcasters of Hope if we don’t eat the Word, which is Jesus. He is not just our Hope, He is His Word! We can learn of Him, become intimate with Him and His ways, simply by devouring His word. And, not just on Sundays when we are spoon-fed a message from the pulpit. He wants to reveal Himself to you personally through the week, through His Word, so that together, you can reveal Him to the world.
These “reports” that the news anchor reveals are also the testimonies of the people in your life, who have lived through hard times, tragedy, horror, discomfort, grief, loss, etc, and have come through on the other side hanging on to Hope, Jesus. Are you a Christian hermit? I used to be one, so I know the attraction to keeping to yourself, and making your life just about you and Jesus. However, the hermit life is not the way of Christ. He walked out His 3 years of ministry in community. He was raised in a family of brothers and sisters, not as an only child. His life on this earth shows us that we need people around us. The word says that He puts the lonely in families. He doesn’t want you alone, and if you have no one in your life, when hard times come, when tragedy hits, when grief tries to bring you into depression, the testimonies of others, how they came through leaning on Jesus, can be your saving grace. You NEED people. You NEED community. If you don’t have it, ask Jesus to “put you in a family” and when He pinpoints who you are to become connected to, don’t let fear or anxiety keep you hidden in your hermit lifestyle.
I pray that this information was just as encouraging to you as it was to me. As I gain my strength from Hope, from Jesus, I am determined to be an anchor to those that I am called to support. I want to be an even bigger landmark of Hope to the people I am called to influence, encourage, and inform about Jesus. I want to be as famous a Broadcaster as I am called to be, reaching everyone I am called to reach, with the transformative power of His Word! Also, I want to continue to thrive in my community of sisters, my fellow lionesses, as we help one another get through life through the words of our testimonies and the power of our prayers.