The Hope and Anchor!

Last weekend we drove through a small village in the north-east of England. I rarely take notice of the names of pubs , but I was suddenly impacted by the name above the door of this particular village hostelry! The Hope and Anchor. As I drove on I began to think about the enormous spiritual significance of the hope we have in Jesus Christ as the absolute anchor for our lives in time and eternity.

I doubt if any of the patrons, who were going in and out of the pub for a pint of beer, thought anything about the meaning of its name - or even where it came from. And, to be honest, I can’t think of the names of any other pubs which have their origin in Scripture! But this one certainly does.

The writer of the Hebrews was drawing attention to the certainty of God’s promises. The God who fulfilled his promise to Abraham, is the same God in whom we trust. Abraham waited patiently and the promise to him and Sarah was fulfilled. In verse 12 we are reminded that those who wait in faith and patience ‘will inherit what has been promised.’

God’s promises to us, who know and love the Lord Jesus, culminate in spending eternity with Him. When Jesus died, the curtain of the temple was torn apart. The way beyond the curtain, that separated the people of God from the holiness of God, was opened up for believers in Him, for both time and eternity. Jesus went before us and has entered on our behalf. He is our certain hope and our absolute anchor – it is He who gives us security beyond understanding, an anchor that cannot be moved whatever storms may rage around us. Amazingly, even the name of a pub can give us cause to be thankful and be an inspiration!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you opened up the way for each one of us to both know You and to enter into the eternal joys of Heaven with you. I choose to trust and depend on you as the anchor of my soul. Amen.