Captain and Anchor of Hope
June 17
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
Hebrews 6:19
The storm blew up without warning, and the two ships began to be tossed about. The helmsman of the sailing vessel, Omega, ordered the deckhands to drop the mainsail and lash everything down. The navigator quickly searched his charts for a cove or inlet along the coast that might offer shelter. Finding a small cove not far away, he advised the Captain. “Take her in and drop anchor,” the Captain ordered the helmsman. “We’ll ride out the storm there.”
With the boat securely anchored on the leeward side of the cove, they were able to drift without being battered against the shoreline or be carried back out to sea. Confident that his crew and boat were safe, the Captain told his men to get some sleep, and did the same. They would resume travel in the morning when the storm was past.
The captain of the Damnatus made a move he would not live to regret. Not having knowledge of the coast along this stretch of land, he ordered his crew, “Run parallel to the shore, men! Keep us two miles out. We’ll sail south for awhile and see if the storm passes.”
Unknown to the Captain, there was a rocky shoal not far away. A mere two miles south of where the Omega was anchored, the Damnatus struck the outcropping of rock and sank in less than five minutes. Only one crewman survived. He told of how the captain had realized his error in judgment too late. His last words were, “I am sorry, men! Abandon ship! Swim for shore, and may God have mercy on our souls!”
†
Knowing something about sailing before joining a crew is wise. But even more crucial is having a Captain Who intimately knows the waters you’ll be navigating, and knows when to direct you to drop anchor in safe harbor.
With Jesus as our Captain and Anchor of Hope we can navigate any spiritual waters, avoiding the pitfalls that lie just beneath the surface.
To navigate our own course will see us tossed upon the waves of life, possibly even shipwrecked, our soul lost at sea.
Prayer
“Lord Jesus, Captain of my life, steer me through the treacherous waters that threaten my life. Be my Anchor of Hope. Amen.”
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