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A SAILOR’S BEST FRIEND

 

During A Storm An Anchor Comes In Handy!

 

I read a joke one time about a Sea Scout (Boy Scouts of America) who was taking an oral test. And when the Scoutmaster asked him what he would do if a severe storm came up suddenly from the North. His answer was, “I would throw out a sea anchor and put the bow into the wind.” Next came the question, “But what would you do if another storm came up from the South?” To this the young man said he would throw out another anchor. So just for the fun of it, he was asked about a third possibility—another storm coming from the East! So when he gave exactly the same answer for the third time, the Scoutmaster asked him where he was getting all the anchors. Without batting an eye, the scout said, “From the same place you are getting all the storms!”

 

If you are old enough to have experienced what life throws at all of us, you know that the analogy of a storm is an appropriate term for what takes place all too often. And when the winds of adversity are howling, few things are more comforting to the believer than having an “anchor” to keep our ship from being dashed to pieces by the waves.

 

“[Now] we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it—a hope] that reaches farther and enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil, 20 Where Jesus has entered in for us [in advance], a Forerunner having become a High Priest forever after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek” Hebrews 6:19-20 (Amplified Bible).

 

The writer of Hebrews (whom I believe was the Apostle Paul), made these comments to Jewish believers who were wavering in their faith. And to exhort them, he said “hope” is the anchor of their souls. But to depend upon hope in the sense of, “Well, I hope so,” is not what he is talking about. To cling to that kind of hope is not at all reassuring when the ship is about to sink! What those “sailors” needed was an anchor they could throw over the side and be confident that it would stabilize their little craft and keep it afloat during the storm. In other words, their “hope” would be an earnest expectation, rather than the feeble “hope” of a last resort.

  

So what “hope,” in the sense of an earnest expectation, was Paul offering them? The definitive answer is found in his epistle to Titus:

 

“Awaiting and looking for the [fulfillment, the realization of our] blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)” Titus 2:13 (Amplified Bible).

 

Genuine believers have their anchors solidly dug in upon the bedrock of Jesus Christ. And by the faith which God Himself supplies, we ride out the storms by eagerly and earnestly anticipating the any-moment return of our Lord and Savior—our “Blessed Hope.”

 

We were told that His ascension into heaven was not permanent and that He would come again to receive us unto Himself:

 

“In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places (homes). If it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 And when (if) I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also” John 14:2-3 (Amplified Bible, emphasis mine).

 

“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” Acts 1:9-11 (KJV, emphasis mine).

 

Is the anchor of your soul keeping your ship afloat, or would you have to admit that sometimes you feel like a drowning man who has already “been under twice” and is struggling against the third and last time? (An old maxim says a drowning man goes under three times). If you are a believer, the words of the old hymn “Standing on the Promises” should be a great comfort. The second stanza says, “Standing on the promises that cannot fail, when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail. By the living Word of God I shall prevail, standing on the promises of God.”

 

Note that it is the living Word of God by which we prevail. Standing on God’s promises by faith gives us the right kind of hope, but the living Word of God—Jesus Christ—is the Anchor by which we are kept safe.

 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men…And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth” John 1:1-4 and 14 (KJV, emphasis mine).

 

My friend, if you realize that you are adrift on the stormy seas of life in a makeshift raft (without a sail and rudder much less an anchor), I urge you to consider the promises made by Jesus Christ—God in the flesh. First and foremost, He has promised to save all those who will come to Him in absolute faith—totally trusting Him for the destiny of their eternal soul. But be advised that promises to be a good little boy or girl, or going to church, or helping little old ladies across the street will not cut it!

 

Another maxim says that a drowning man will “grab at straws” in a desperate attempt to save himself. And multiplied millions continue to sink beneath the waves while grasping at the “religious straws” offered to them. Those straws basically consist of teaching that says one must “do” something in order to be saved, like “making a profession of faith,” “joining the church,” or “being baptized.” And while such things are good when viewed in the proper context, in and of themselves they cannot get the job done. Salvation is nothing less than receiving the Person of Jesus Christ into one’s life.  Praying, making promises, going to church every time the doors are opened, doing good deeds, etc., etc., have no bearing upon God’s salvation because personal works do not save.

 

“For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; 9 Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]” Ephesians 2:8-9 (Amplified Bible).

 

You see, God is under no obligation to save anyone. And if He does choose to do so, it is always accomplished by extending grace to that individual. Personal worth or the ridiculous perception thereof does not impress Him, because in actual point of fact—aint none of us got any! The best man ever saved was a spiritually dead and rotten in-for-hell richly deserving of an eternity separated from God, along with all the torments associated with being in that state. You see, when Adam willfully and knowingly disobeyed God and bit into that forbidden fruit, sin as a concept was introduced into a moral universe. And the instantaneous result was a supernatural “storm” beyond our ability to comprehend. It was so severe that our original parents, Adam and Eve, died right on the spot—just like God said would happen (Gen.2:17). Their instantaneous death was spiritual and the long term effect was physical. And with the sole exception of Jesus Christ, every human born from that day until this has come into the world spiritually dead as a mackerel (Eph.2:1). Do dead men have anything to offer God? Romans 8:8-9 clearly says, “No!”:

 

“So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” (KJV, Emphasis mine).

 

The equation is actually simple: the Holy Spirit’s presence within = salvation. And the corollary is: His presence = fruit demonstrated in the life. No fruit—means there is no root in Christ!

 

Have you been thrown overboard and the only anchor you have is tied to your neck? If so, I lovingly suggest that you call upon Jesus Christ and beg for mercy. Throw yourself at His feet and plead for Him to extend grace by coming into your heart and life. Forget about promises because you have absolutely nothing to offer but yourself. And if you do business with Him from the heart, your love and obedience is all He wants in return.

 

How will you know if you are going to survive? When the whale spits you out on dry land like he did Jonah and you “head for Nineveh” in true repentance and faith, instead of continuing to paddle that sinking raft you call life toward oblivion.  

 

 

If you have been born again and received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, but have been very lukewarm in your spiritual walk with Him, you need to immediately ask Him for forgiveness and for renewal. He will instantly forgive you, and fill your heart with the joy of the Holy Spirit. Then, you need to begin a daily walk of prayer and personal Bible Study.

If you have never placed your trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior, but have come to sense His reality and the approaching End of the Age, and want to receive His FREE Gift of Eternal Life, you can do so now, in the privacy of your home. Once you truly believe in Him as Lord and Savior, you are spiritually Born Again, and are as assured of Heaven as if you were already there. Then, you can rest assured that the Kingdom of Antichrist will not touch you spiritually. If you would like to become Born Again, turn to our Salvation Page now.

We hope you have been blessed by this ministry, which seeks to educate and warn people, so that they can see the coming New World Order Kingdom of Antichrist in their daily news.

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God bless you