Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2
I have been looking for a good size boat anchor for my front yard. It takes time to find exactly what one desires. After all, coming from Bermuda, I had decided on some items that would enhance the yard to remind me of my roots. Several, including the anchor, are in my plans.
I spotted one in a yard in Sun City West the other day. My, I thought, there are not enough surroundings of similar décor to make it look as attractive as it might. Then I found myself wondering about the owner’s background. Is it possible he was a sailor? Maybe he came from an ocean town? East Coast? West Coast? Where? Perhaps it was a dream that was never allowed to flourish and he remained on his farm or in some cramped up job in Chicago all of his life. I wanted to go to the door and ask, but did not have the nerve.
While anchors have a distinct benefit under some circumstances, in some situations they tend to be bulky and weighty obstacles of nuisance. No one needs to tell me not to equip my racing class boat with an anchor. I have thought often of the burdensome anchors with which we lay on ourselves… pride, prestige, possessions, success, etc. In fact, most of these things originate in the sin that we inherited in our sinful natures… sin that anchored us to the old nature and from which we have never been freed.
Another problem that we face is the desire to be free to do whatever we want without restraint. It is what I call “anchors aweigh”. There is that sense of feeling captivated and not understanding why, we “do our thing”. The problem reverts back to the fact that we invariably choose out of our sinful nature and our choices become sinful acts. The restraints of home or those of society cause us to react and everyone is to blame, in our individualized thinking, kindling the fires of rebellion.
Dragging those anchors in the pursuit of the race of life, referred to in Hebrews 12:1, 2, is indicative that the deck needs to be cleared of all hindrances. This is possible only through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ who frees us from every “encumbrance and the sin which so easily besets us”. Christ on Calvary worked the work of redemption. It is faith in Christ alone that cleanses our souls from sin of the past, present, and future. Read again Hebrews 11. It is that new position in Him that causes and enables us to cast off the restraining forces of sin because our “gaze is fixed on Jesus” in Hebrews 12.
We need to cast our anchor out, anchor to the Rock, Jesus Christ, and shorten the rope daily.
ETCetera 