The Anchor Holds

 

Most of us have heard of the song "The Anchor Holds." Very good song! But, there is more to our "Anchor" than it holding us in place! This Anchor is HOPE! Hebrews 6:18-20 tells of the HOPE that we have in Christ.

This hope is first of all a STRONG CONSOLATION! Hebrews 6:18_" ....we might have a strong consolation,......the hope set before us:". The meaning of consolation is "comfort that is felt in times of disappointment." The Lord IS called THE COMFORTER & CONSOLATION in the Bible! He IS OUR ANCHOR OF COMFORT AND CONSOLATION! "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26. Luke 2:25 "...waiting for the CONSOLATION of Israel:". Only He can give us the Comfort and Consolation that we need while here on this earth!

Secondly, this hope is a REFUGE. "...who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:" Heb. 6:18. "For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a REFUGE from the storm," Isaiah 25:4. Psalm 91:2 "I will say of the Lord, He is my REFUGE and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust." This Anchor of HOPE is OUR REFUGE! Jesus wants us to seek Him for help as the FIRST PLACE to turn to in the storm, or distress! "God is our REFUGE and strength, a very present help in trouble!" Psalms 46:1.

Thirdly, our Anchor of Hope is THE ANCHOR OF THE SOUL! "Which HOPE we have as an ANCHOR OF THE SOUL, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus..." Hebrews 6:19 & 20a. If our Anchor is sure and stedfast, we should be too! He is the one that holds, or keeps us! "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." I Corinthians 15:58. Keeping our HOPE, the Anchor of our Soul, as the basis of our being, we can be sure and stedfast! "Thou wilt keep Him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26:3. "Rejoicing in HOPE, ..." Romans 12:12.

Jesus, our HOPE, is the Anchor of Strong Consolation, Refuge, and Anchor of the Soul! In the storms of life, may we remember our Anchor is WHO comforts, protects, and keeps us! "Now the GOD of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in HOPE, through the power of the Holy Ghost!."Romans 15:13. "....God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, WHICH IS OUR HOPE." I Timothy 1:1. The Anchor Holds!




 

You Can't Beat That With A STICK!

We have all heard the saying, "You can't beat that with a stick!" But, while listening to a Sunday School lesson, a new meaning came to mind for this phrase!
 
In the book of Numbers Chapter 17 is the account of Aaron's rod that budded. A disgruntled band of Israelites, lead by a wicked man named Korah, had tried to intrude into the office of the priest, which was reserved for ONLY the one ordained of God. This man and his followers were then killed by the Lord. The Lord then instructed Moses to give a testimony to Israel, showing that the tribe of Levi was the ordained tribe to do the office of the priesthood. Moses was told to take a rod, from each tribe of Israel, and write their name on each one. He then laid them up in the tabernacle of witness over night. When Moses arrived in the morning, he found that Aaron's rod had budded, had blooms, and also blooms WITH ALMONDS grown on them! The Lord had shown to Israel that the tribe of Levi, and Aaron's family, was HIS CHOSEN to perform the priestly duties. It was later placed in the Ark of the Covenant to be a perpetual reminder to Israel that God had chosen this family to do so. When this rod is looked at closer, we see a type of Christ.

First, this was THE MEDIATOR'S rod. It was God's chosen to be the High Priest, offering prayers for the People. "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens." Hebrews 7:25 & 26. Jesus Christ is our ONLY MEDIATOR in Heaven at this very minute, praying for His children!
 Secondly, it was MARKED with the Aaron's name. Aaron's name being on the rod left no room for doubt as to whom the Lord has chosen as the High Priest for His people. Aaron's name means, Exalted and Strong. In Zechariah 6:12, the Lord is called "THE BRANCH". Aaron's name was a clear foreshadowing of Jesus, THE BRANCH . "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other NAME under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12. The Lord clearly told who the Messiah would be, and there was no room left for doubt. Jesus name was foretold in the Old Testament as well, Isaiah 9:6&7, Isaiah 7:14.

Thirdly, this rod MADE buds, blossoms, and fruit. This rod was ALIVE, whereas the others remained dead. Jesus said, "..I am the way, the truth, and the LIFE...." John 14:6 "I am the RESURRECTION, and the LIFE: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall live:" John 11:25. This rod budded, was in bloom, had fully developed blooms, and even yielded almonds. This displayed all of the stages of life and growth at one time, or COMPLETE FULNESS. "For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power;" Colossians 2:9&10. He was God in the Flesh! This rod was also a clear type of His Fullness as well!  The fruit that was produced, almonds, also was significant. Almonds are ready for harvest in January and February. They are THE FIRST FRUITS that are harvested every year! The Bible clearly states that Jesus is the first fruits of God. "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the FIRSTFRUITS of them that slept" I Corinthians 15:20.

The miracle of Aaron's rod that budded was more than just a miracle! It clearly told the Israelites who the Lord's chosen High Priest was to be. It was chosen to be the Mediator, Marked for clear indication, and Made to produce fruit in its fullness. After its revelation to the nation of Israel, it was placed in the Ark of the Covenant as a perpetual testimony of God's chosen. Jesus Christ, after giving His Life on the Cross, rose from the dead, and is seated at the right hand of God in heaven. He is a testimony against the world in the true "Holy of Holies" in Heaven as our perpetual High Priest. All of the other sticks, or rods, could not compete, or beat Aaron's rod. There is no comparison with our Lord as well! Korah's naysayers , "Couldn't beat Aaron (THAT) with their STICKS!"