Pastor's Pondering

 

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Soul Anchor

by Duane Mabee on February 17, 2021

The Book of Hebrews provides us with 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,” (Heb. 6:18-20).  That’s what we will be looking at in our new series Soul Anchor.  I borrowed the series title from Michael Card who took it from Hebrews. 

 

We need a soul anchor that is firmly imbedded in the truth of Christ.  We need an anchor that cannot be pulled up by the tides and storms of a culture determined to rip up anything that stands in its way of creating a world devoid of Christ’s influence.  We need something to help us stand strong when we’re tempted to opt out of the faith and return to something more accepted by those around us.  We need our souls to be anchored in Jesus. 

 

These days everything is in flux.  Everything is being challenged.  What has long been held to be true is being called a lie because those who crafted the story were biased and had an agenda.  A new truth narrative is being promoted as the only story allowed, but this new story has been crafted by those who have an equally strong bias and agenda.  We live in a cancel culture where anything that does not fit with the cultural narrative is automatically shut down, shut out and demonized.  The dangers of a culture where all dissenting voices are snuffed out are enormous, regardless of who controls the public narrative. 

 

In an atmosphere like the one that currently grips our country, the Christian message becomes increasingly unpopular because it refuses to bow to cultural dictates.  Because the Scriptures assert that things the culture wants to promote are wrong, do not be surprised to see the cancel culture try to stamp out the Christian message.  It’s already happening. 

 

My goal isn’t to alarm or discourage.  Quite the opposite, I want to strengthen and encourage us to press on.  We are not the first to face a culture that wants to stamp out the message of Christ.  We are not the only ones facing it now.  The message of Christ has always been opposed by those who want to create a world after their own liking and it always will be. 

 

The Book of Hebrews was written to people who faced pressures from an anti-Christian society that far exceed what we face.  They had been persecuted so hard and so long that they were sorely tempted to abandon Christianity.  They toyed with returning to a faith more recognized and accepted by the world around them.  Hebrews was written to strengthen them and help them stay true to Christ.  It was written to remind them that Christ is better than anything they could find in the world or any another faith.  We need those same messages today.  We need a strong and sure Soul Anchor.

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