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To be a Christian employed at a major airline today can bring about great testing or great temptation. Over the past several years we have seen unprecedented financial losses, reductions in force, benefit changes, and loss of pensions. When negative outside circumstances {war in Iraq, fuel prices, downturn in the economy} are then coupled with inward ones {corporate greed, worker retaliation, promoting of gross sexual sin} it can become a recipe for destruction, and the Christians soul might be very wearied by the pressure of the present circumstances we find ourselves in. For the believer it is not the pending reality of our company in Chapter 11, or even Chapter 7, that should concern us most, but something of a far greater loss; The loss of all hope.

How do you see Christians responding to all of this? Are there some who are wandering around like the proverbial �ship without an anchor�? Are there those that are apathetic, bitter, depressed and angry? It is happening, and to many it appears �hopeless�, but, God�s Word declares that the Christian can be �hopeful�. Why? Because there is a different kind of anchor we have, and it is able to anchor your soul when the storms of life surround you. The writer of Hebrews describes it as both �sure and steadfast� in chapter 6, verses 19 and 20. NASB

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:19-20 NASB

John MacArthur explains it this way:
Jesus� entering within the veil signifies His entering the Holy of Holies, where the sacrifice of atonement was made. Under the Old Covenant it was made yearly by the high priest. Under the New is has been made once for all time by Christ�s sacrifice on the cross. Our anchored soul is, in God�s mind, already secure within the veil, secure within His eternal sanctuary. When Jesus entered the heavenly Holy of Holies, he did not leave after the sacrifice as did the Aaronic high priests, but �He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high� (Heb. 1:3). In other words, Jesus remains there forever as Guardian of our souls. Such absolute security is almost incomprehensible. Not only are our souls anchored within the impregnable, inviolable heavenly sanctuary, but our Savior, Jesus Christ, stands guard over them as well! How can the Christian�s security be described as anything but eternal? Truly we can trust God and His Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, with our souls. That is good cause to come all the way to salvation and to enjoy its security.
{MacArthur�s New Testament Commentary, Hebrews}

What are the Christians doing? How are they responding?
Do we respond to the storms of turmoil knowing Jesus Christ is our sure and steadfast anchor, or do we respond with the misguided belief that my airline is? If we are tempted to revile and utter threats and cursing under our circumstances, and we tend to lean toward or engage in apathy, bitterness, depression and anger, then perhaps we have bought the lie of the one that promises just health, wealth and prosperity here on earth, and my airline is my god. On the other hand,
�Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.� James 1:2-4 NASB

The anchor that is Jesus Christ is sure and steadfast, unalterable, firmly grounded and guaranteed. He brings joy in trials, endurance in turmoil, and perfection and completeness in our life.

Tim

Jesus, the Anchor of our Souls