Final thoughts on Hebrews 6:13-20
For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. NKJV
The Hebrew Christians were going through trials and sufferings, yet the Lord had exhorted them in Hebrews 9:11 to “show diligence to the full assurance of hope unto end.” In our text, God is assuring them that they can be confident of a better and eternal future. Likewise, we as Christians can be confident of a better and eternal future than whatever our present circumstances might be for three reasons.
First, we can be confident of a better and eternal future because God has promised this to us (vs. 13-16). Human beings are unreliable and when they make promises, they often break their promises. God has put His own flawless and perfect reputation on the line in His promises to us (v. 13), so we can be sure that God, who cannot lie (v. 18), will keep those promises, including the promise of a better and eternal future for Christians (Jn. 14:1-3; Heb. 11:10; Rev. 21:4, 22:4-5; I Cor. 2:9; Rom. 8:18).
Second, we can be confident of a better and eternal future because God is immutable (vs. 17-18). God never changes (Mal. 3:6, Job 23:13). Because God is immutable, we can be certain that He will keep His promises to us of a better and eternal future. He is not going to change His mind (Job 23:13).
Third, we can be confident of a better and eternal future because the Lord Jesus Christ is the anchor of our soul (vs. 19-20). The anchor in verse 19 is an allusion to the anchors that held the tabernacle in place. These anchors were huge metal stakes that were driven deeply into the ground to hold the tabernacle in place. The same Hebrew root used for the “anchors” is also used in the Hebrew word for “faith.” No matter how strong the desert storm might blow, the Hebrews were confident that when the storm had passed, the tabernacle would still be standing, made secure by the anchors that held it firm. Likewise those of us who are Christians are confident that when the storm of God’s judgment has passed, we will still be standing, made secure by the Lord Jesus Christ, the anchor of our soul. Jesus is the anchor of our soul because He has entered into the true Holy of Holies made without hands; into the court of Heaven itself; into the presence of the great judge, God the Father (vs. 19-20), where He makes eternal intercession for us (Heb. 7:25).
What an anchor of the soul we have, Who is able to keep us secure through the storm of God’s judgment! Is Jesus the anchor of your soul? Have you repented of your sins and trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? When the storm of God’s judgment has come and gone—will you be left standing, secure in Christ?
Bethel Bible Church Hawaii 