Anchor for Our Soul

Anchor for our Soul

           God has given us an anchor for our soul not based on our subjective emotional

responses or changing feelings within ourselves, but on the objective reality outside of
ourselves of what God Himself has said and done. That “anchor,” that “confident expectation”  to which we so eagerly look forward is embodied in the English word "hope" which means so much more in Greek and Hebrew than in English. Our English word in this case is simply too weak to convey to us the confidence and strength of the God-breathed words which were given in Hebrew and in Greek.

       Let's begin with a passage from the book of Hebrews chapter six: “So when God

desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul,  a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf. . . ."  Hebrews 6:17-20 ESV

       The word translated hope here is the Greek word elpis (Strong's G1680) meaning

“confident expectation” or “solid assurance.” The primary root elpo means "to anticipate usually with pleasure, expectation or confidence."
(Mounce, Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words, p. 340)

       We have “fled for refuge” to Jesus because without Him we were “without hope and without God in the world."  Eph. 2:12  lost and on our way to face God for the judgment of our sins.  When Christ brought us to Himself, He gave us an anchor for our soul that we would have the confident assurance that we belong to Him and are safe in Him and that “He will bring us safely into His heavenly kingdom."  2 Tim.4.18  
(ESV)
        We have both His Word and His oath, His absolute promise. And we have the evidence of God's faithfulness and immutability, His unchangeableness throughout all of human history confirmed in the history of our own lives. It is “strong consolation” or encouragement implying “indwelling strength” from God.

        Now all of that is to emphasize that when you see the word hope in scripture, read it as “confident expectation” or anticipation of that which most surely will come to pass. Let's take a few of the wonderful verses using hope in the New Testament and see how they sound with that as a translation instead of the English word hope which often implies a desire, but not a certainty.  The certainty is missing in English, but it's not missing in Greek or Hebrew.

 

Titus 1:2 (ESV) in [confident expectation] of eternal life, which God, who never lies,

promised before the ages began
 

Romans 5:2 (ESV) we rejoice in [confident expectation] of the glory of God.
Romans 15:4 (ESV) For whatever was written in former days was written for our

instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have [confident expectation]
Romans 15:13 (ESV) May the God of [confident expectation] fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in [confident expectation.]

 

Ephesians 1:18 (ESV) having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know

what is the [confident expectation] to which he has called you,

Colossians 1:27 (ESV) Christ in you, the [confident expectation] of glory.

Titus 2:13 (ESV) waiting for our blessed hope, [[confident expectation] the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

        In the Old Testament Hebrew has more than one word translated into English by “hope.” (So does Greek.) Sometimes the same Hebrew word is translated hope in one
place and expectation in another. An example is Psalm 62:5 “My soul, wait thou only
upon God; for my expectation is from him.” The Hebrew is tiqvah, [8615] sometimes
translated hope. The literal meaning is “a cord (as an attachment; figuratively,
expectancy:” Or “thing that I long for.”

Psalm 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices: my flesh also shall rest in hope.The Hebrew here is batach 982—Strong's meaning to trust, be confident or sure:

Psalm 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope 3176  in the Lord. Strong's 3176 is yachal in Hebrew meaning to wait; by implication, to be patient, hope:

That marvelous verse Psalm 27:14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he
shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord is sometimes translated “Hope in the  Lord.” The Hebrew is qavah Strong's 6960 meaning “to bind together (perhaps by twisting),  i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect:”

Look at Psalm 39:7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee. |6960 qavah is I do await , Hope here is towcheleth 8431

What is clear from both the Hebrew and Greek examples is that when scripture uses
the English word hope it is to have a certainty that is often missing in the popular and
common use of that English word.

       Obviously this is closely-related to faith which is simply believing that what God said in His Word is true and acting on that. Stepping out, trusting, depending on God and His Word. The Greek word is pistis 4102 meaning persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation.

Hebrews 11:1 KJV Now faith is the substance [5287 hupostasis] of things hoped for, the evidence [or conviction] of things not seen.  "A setting under (support), i.e.

(figuratively) concretely, essence, or abstractly, assurance (objectively or subjectively): KJV--confidence, confident, person, substance.

“Conviction of things not seen” mean “the deep inner certainty in your soul that God is on His throne and working His plan for your life. He will bring to pass what He has promised into reality.”

Faith is the “present assurance of future reality.” It is assurance–NOT anxiety, Faith– NOT fear. We have an Inner assurance in my soul that God will do all that He said He would.
        Do you build your life on what is seen or what is unseen? Live not for the temporal but for the eternal. Don’t focus on what is seen but focus on the Lord. We endure as seeing Him who is invisible.

2 Cor. 4:17-18 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far

more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

       We also have the inner certitude that the Holy Spirit is also our anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast. “The Holy Spirit Himself, who is the “earnest of our inheritance,” “bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” Romans 8:16 so He also gives us assurance in our heart. He is the “Anointing” explained in 1 John, the “testimonium” of the Holy Spirit whereby God intensifies the evidence and other reasons for knowing that God is real and the Bible is true. God Himself gives an awareness of His Presence in our hearts.

“They found it just as he had told them”

“They found it just as he had told them”

           This morning while I was eating breakfast, I listened to Luke 22. That's the story of how Peter and John prepared the borrowed Upper Room for Jesus and His disciples to eat the Last Passover together (which included the First Lord's Supper). As I was listening carefully, one phrase captured my imagination.
⁷ Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. ⁸ So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” ⁹ They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” ¹⁰ He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. [That's the first unusual part of it because usually it was women who carried the jars of water from the spring or well and not men.]

          Follow him into the house that he enters ¹¹ and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ¹² And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” [What sort of contact Jesus had earlier with this man, we are not told, but we do know that Jesus had made all the arrangements. It was God's time and He was ready.]

^{13 “}And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.”

        All this is preliminary, of course. The really important part is what happened after they met for the Passover Meal and Jesus washed their feet and ate the Passover meal with them and gave them those wonderful promises that we all love so much from John 13-16.  But what gripped my attention this morning were these marvelous words which seem so ordinary and perhaps expected: ”And they went and found it just as he had told them,”

         Isn't that what you would expect? Well, yes it is, of course. But think of how we can apply this to ALL the words that Jesus tells us. Haven't you already found that true?   Remember how Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation.” Hasn't that happened to you? But don't forget His words of comfort which are also true, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

         And through one of His servants He told you, “No temptation [or testing] has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let [or, allow] you to be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Cor. 10:13 ESV And you found it just as he had told you.

          And you received with joy Jesus' legacy that He left for us when He said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. . . . Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27 ESV And you found it just as he had told you. You found that you didn't have to allow yourself to be troubled or afraid.

          Some of you are getting older and more tired. And you realize the truth of 2 Cor. 4:16, that we are “outwardly wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” That's a promise and you found it just as he had told you. And some of you find your strength ebbing away as the years progress and the demands of life seem to multiply. And you remember the promise to Asher, “as thy days, so shall thy strength be.” Deut. 33:25 And you found it just as it was told you.

           You thought you didn't have any strength and then you remembered this promise, ^“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” Psalm 27:14 You waited on the Lord and you were of good courage and He did strengthen your heart. You found it just as it was told you.

          And with anticipation and expectation you read of Jesus' promise, John 14:3 (ESV)
^“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” How comforting to your heart to look forward to that blessed day you enter eternal life in His Presence. And you will find it just as He told us. He will take you to Himself that you may be where He is.

"Be of Good Cheer!"

“Be of Good Cheer”
One of the ways God blesses and encourages my heart is through those many, many friends and family He has given Minnie and me through the many years of our life together. So when I returned from those refreshing two weeks with Jon & family in Petaluma, a beautiful town in California, and Jeannine & Chris in their lovely “Evergreen” village in the mountains of Colorado, I was pleased to find so many Christmas cards and Christmas letters and e-mails awaiting me. And I think there will be more still coming. Some of you I hear from only once a year at Christmas time and that’s fine. It’s a good way to stay in contact with many whom we have loved through the years. And I have several that I will be responding to before long.

They were cheerful letters and e-mails and they told a bit of the story of their lives in this past year. (By the way, I have started on my Christmas Letter and expect to finish it and send it before January 13.) So many of you have expressed love and comfort for me in this first Christmas since 1955 without Minnie. And you told me of so many of life’s problems–cancer and other health problems; jobs lost; homes vacated; financial problems; separations from loved ones; children not walking with the Lord; depression and discouragement; uncertainty of the future; some have even faced divorce. And others have had the stability and support of family and friends to help them.

And yet your attitude was one of good cheer and encouragement as you face an uncertain future. (Uncertain in the immediate future, but not uncertain in the longer perspective of eternity.) It seems to me this reflects what Jesus told His disciples just before His death, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” And He gave them His legacy of peace so that they might face the difficulties of life: “ These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.” “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. . . . Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 16:33; 14:27 We can be of good cheer because He has already won the victory on the cross and His Presence abides with us now and forever. Our future is assured and secure. Take the long perspective.

The Apostle Peter said the same thing: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy.” 1 Peter 4:12-13

Accept the difficulties of this life as part of the cross we must take up daily to follow Christ and realize that God is accomplishing eternal values in what He, in His providence, brings your way or allows into your life. “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are [temporary], but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:16-18 ESV

Let me offer you a suggestion for the New Year which begins tomorrow: get a copy of Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening and read it every day along with your regular Bible reading. In the morning, as you know, Minnie and I read the Psalms together for 54 years and during her last three years we read and re-read the New Testament aloud together and Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening and other good books. It was such a blessing to both of us and Minnie, even when she was nauseated or suffering, she was always of good cheer. In fact during her last week when she saw the sorrow in our eyes, she tried to cheer us up–and she did!

And one of the ways she cheered those around her bedside was with her thankful spirit. She was thankful for the simple things of life and for whatever came to her from the good hand of our God. Shouldn’t we be thankful that we are not starving or suffering great pain? We are not in a slave labor camp. And you’re not enslaved by drug addiction or alcoholism (at least I hope you’re not!) You have friends and family and adequate resources and a relatively peaceful life to live. Think of the persecuted church in so many places in the world and be thankful for the peace and freedoms we have.

Minnie often said that one day she would see our Lord “face to face.” And now she has! Think of how much better off she is Christmas 2010 compared to what she was experiencing just a year ago Christmas 2009. She would not want to return from the glory she is presently experiencing in the presence of the Lord where all is peace and joy and love. She has complete satisfaction and happiness because scripture says, “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” Psalm 17:15

It also says “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Blessed indeed," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!" Rev. 14:13 “Blessed” means “favored of God,” but it also means perfect “happiness.”

My oldest great-granddaughter asked me today when we were walking from Walmart to our car what Mimi was doing and did she have a body. And I told her that she would have a glorified body after the Resurrection but now if she is just “spirit,” that it is quite all right because she is with the Lord (“absent from the body, present with the Lord”) and Jesus Himself has told us that He has gone to prepare a place for us. John 14:1 And that place is prepared especially for Mimi and she is very happy where she is living now. (It is so encouraging to me that our 11-year old would ask questions like that. We often speak casually about Minnie and how much better off she is now than when she had pancreatic cancer.)

Anticipate what lies ahead. The future is glorious. We often speak of the return of Christ as “the blessed hope” but we have “another blessed hope,” our anticipation of living eternally in heaven and sharing life with the Lord Jesus and His people. “Hope” in scripture means “expectation” or “anticipation” of what must surely take place. “We shall meet Him ourselves face to face, To the Praise of His glorious grace!”
–Pastor Burnside
http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/morningandevening/550586/