Strong as the Weakest Link
by Ron Scurfield
‘Will your anchor hold in the storms of life, when the clouds unfold their wings of strife? When the strong tides lift and the cables strain, will your anchor drift or firm remain? We have an anchor that keeps the soul steadfast and sure while the billows roll, fastened to the Rock which cannot move, grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.’ - Hymn by Priscilla Owens, Methodist Minister USA ,1882.
Can we depend on our anchor holding fast to the Rock of our hope, our strength and our salvation? When the waves crash and roar all around us can we be sure we won’t be blown off course? Is our anchor securely locked on to the person of Jesus Christ? ‘The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.’ (Psalm 18:2).
Our anchor may be firmly fixed to the Rock, but how about the lifeline that connects the anchor to the vessel? Is this safely attached to our heart? And is the cable securely fastened at both ends? How strong is our relationship with Jesus? We must hold fast to this cable and never let go in the midst of all the storms that seek to overwhelm us.
How about the cable itself, is it strong enough to take the strain? The strength of a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and it must withstand all the tensions and pressures that seek to break it. I believe the cable that connects us with the anchor is nothing less than our faith and a right relation-ship with God, ‘Holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith’ (1 Timothy 1:19).
No matter how secure our anchor is, and how firmly we hold on to the lifeline, if the cable is flawed or the link is broken, we drift away and are at the mercy of the wind and the waves, like a boat without a rudder. Faith is the essential constituent that holds it all together, not a dogged faith of determination to cling on, but faith in Jesus Christ, who’ll never let us go.
As we hold fast to the anchor, which is fixed firmly to the Rock, our faith in Jesus leads us directly to God. Today’s scripture assures us our anchor is firm and secure, ‘It enters the inner sanctuary be-hind the curtain’ (Hebrews 6:19). It’s here we find the Holy of Holies, and are given open access to that Holy Place, right up to the throne and God Himself, ‘Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need’ (Hebrews 4:16).
Prayer: Father, I want to hold firmly to Your love and protection and never let You go. It’s so reas-suring that, even in my weakness, when my strength might fail and my hold on You might slip, I know You’ll never let me go. This is what I cling to, because I know nothing can ever separate me from Your love. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.
Ron Scurfield with his wife Jill, are part of the Associate Ministry Team at Ellel Grange and occasionally Ellel Scotland. Ron enjoys walking and writing and meeting interesting people, but his greatest joy is seeing God transform lives, setting people free to live the abundant life that Jesus intended.
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