A Word for Today | Hebrews 6:19-20
Yesterday, I pointed out the naval analogies in the book of Hebrews, starting with the warning not to “drift away” from faith in Hebrews 2:1. Another naval term appears in Hebrews 6:20, which says that “Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf” into heaven. In the ancient world, a “forerunner” was a light vessel that was able to go into harbors when a low tide kept the larger ships from passing over the sandbars. While the ship waited to enter the harbor, the forerunner would take its anchor and carry it ahead, dropping it into the safe waters. Then, when the tide rose, the ship would follow the lead of its anchor and make its way into the safe haven.
What a wonderful description of the blessing provided to believers by Jesus’ entry into heaven on our behalf. At present, we still live in a world of tempests and dangerous storms, like the coronavirus emergency we now face. There are threats all around – to our lives, to our faith, and to our spiritual and moral well-being. While we have trusted in Jesus, our souls are not yet able to enter into the safe harbor of heaven. What a blessing it is for Jesus to be there, tethered to us by the unbreakable bond of God’s oath-bound promise. Hebrews 6:19 therefore says: “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor for the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place.” We might not yet be in heaven, but we have the present peace of knowing that Jesus is anchoring our salvation from the very throne of the Almighty.
Hebrews 6:19-20 teaches that when we believe in Jesus, He has already overcome every obstacle to our eternal salvation. Will the guilt of sin keep us from heaven? Not if we have trusted in Jesus and His atoning blood! Will our own weakness as believers keep us from passing over into glory? No, since Jesus is there now as an anchor that has already secured our eternal blessing. Not Satan, the hostility of men, or the COVID-19 virus can overthrow the secure work of God for us through His Son. Believers are saved and safe because of God’s oath-bound promise, secured and made fast in heaven by the finished work of Jesus Christ. This means that when our hopes in this world begin to fall away, we have a hope in heaven that will never fail. As the old hymn puts it: “Who trusts in God, a strong abode in heaven and earth possesses. Who looks in love to Christ above, no fear his heart oppresses.”
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Phillips
