«We . . . 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 6:18, 19, NLT
IF YOU VISIT the catacombs, the ancient Christian cemeteries located in different parts of the city of Rome, in Italy, you can see the rich iconography of first through third century Christianity. Among other symbols of Christianity, on its walls you will find the fish, the Greek letters alpha and omega, and the monogram with the Greek chi and rho. The anchor is one of the symbols repeated most often.
An anchor is a tool that holds a vessel down so it will not drift away. Greek philosophers, who viewed life as a vessel on a voyage, gave the anchor a metaphoric meaning. For instance, Pythagoras said «the most powerful anchors are prudence, magnanimity, and fortitude.» Epictetus considered it was not advisable to tie our lives down to a single anchor or hope,* that it was better to have several options.
Although the anchor was a symbol used by the Greeks and Romans, Christians adopted the image based on this Bible passage: «These two things [his promise and his oath] 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 6:18, 19, NLT). In this section, Paul tells his readers that God’s promises are immutable, faithful, that God does not lie and will keep all His promises like He did with Abraham. As we wait for those promises to fully come true, we are to «hold to the hope that lies before us.»
That hope becomes «a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls»; that is, it helps keep us sure and steadfast while we are battered by adversity and tribulation. Whereas human anchors stop vessels, the Christian’s anchor of hope lifts us up, to the sanctuary where Jesus is. It’s the only anchor that helps us confidently move forward, that gives us the assurance we will reach a safe harbor.
The anchor of hope keeps our eyes focused upward and forward, and gives us the «strong consolation» we truly need.
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2023
“I AM WITH YOU”
From: J. VLADIMIR POLANCO
Collaborators: Lorina Maya & Avineyda Hernández
