The Niagara Falls is one of the wonders of the world. The Niagara river plummets 180 feet at the American and Horseshoe Falls which pours 681,750 gallons per second. But before the falls, you can still take a boat ride in the Welland River. Near it, there is a sign that is posted saying, “Do you have an anchor? Do you know how to use it?”
When rough waters come and the hurricane of life hits, that’s the question we all face – do you have an anchor and do you know how to use it?
We are told that we walk by faith and not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7) Without faith, it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6) The anchor we have is Christ and we connect to our anchor by our faith in Him.
How do we grow in this faith that’s been given to us by the Author and Finisher of our faith?
1. LOOK BACK
But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings. (Hebrews 10:32)
The Hebrew believers were going through severe persecution at that time. Christians were being thrown into prison, fed to lions during Gladiator events and burned at the stake to light up the roads.
The author of Hebrews admonishes the believers to “recall the former days.” The New Living Translation puts it as “Don’t forget those early days when you first learned about Christ.”
Looking back means remembering His faithfulness.
If God has been faithful in the past, He certainly has the ability to be faithful in the future.
APPLICATION: List down 3 things every day and look back every so often and praise God for His faithfulness.
2. LOOK FORWARD.
For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. (Hebrews 10:34)
The Hebrew author was admonishing the believers to look forward to what God has in store for those who endure.
Eternity is a game changer. The way we look at the future will influence the way we live today.
Viktor Frankl, in his book Man’s Search for Meaning, was an Austrian psychiatrist who spent time in the Nazi prison camps. As he spoke with the inmates, he observed that many have died not because of lack of food or medicine but due to a lack of hope. In his book, Frankl said, “Those who have a ‘why’ to live can bear with almost any ‘how.’”
APPLICATION: What is the hope that you hold on to? Knowing that this life isn’t all that there is will inspire us to persevere to keep our eyes on Christ.
3. LOOK WITHIN.
My righteous shall live by faith. (Hebrews 10:38)
We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. (Hebrews 10:39)
To look within is to understand who God called us to be. We have been made righteous not by our own merit but by the atoning sacrifice of Christ on Calvary. Knowing who God called us to be and do will propel us to keep enduring even in the toughest of times.
First Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
Because we have been redeemed, our life is no longer our own. Thus, we now, in this life, glorify God in our body, no matter how difficult our circumstances become.
APPLICATION: Do you know who you are? Is your identity hinged on Christ? Where do you get value, significance and security?
Facebook Comments