When we drive over a nearby bridge we see small boats at anchor. As they always point into the current we can immediately tell whether the tide is coming in or going out.
The anchor is the hope of the owner that their boat will still be there upon their return. The anchor chain creates (and maintains) the connection between each boat and the owner's hope.
Drifting
During a 'drifting moment'there is detachment from a solid point: either from the anchor or perhaps from our concentration on the task at hand.
This happens in our Christian life when instead of walking closely with God, we drift from Him as our 'solid point'.
The dictionary says 'drifting'involves being carried slowly by a current; a continuous slow movement from one place to another, or perhaps moving aimlessly into a situation or condition. It occurs imperceptibly, the danger of slowness being that it goes unnoticed.
A divine warning
We must pay more "careful attention" therefore to what we have heard so that we do not drift away. (Hebrews chapter 2 verse 1).
Be careful that you do not forget the LORD. The danger being warned about here (Deuteronomy chapter 6 verses 10-12) involves the potential for the subtle trickery of the emergence of a feeling of self-sufficiency that prosperity can bring.
Jesus warns about this when He says: the worries of this life, the "deceitfulness of wealth" and the desires for other things come in and choke the word [of God] making it unfruitful. (Mark chapter 4 verse 19).
Devastation
About the Christian faith a person may say: 'I don't believe any of that stuff'. Upon death, in that brief, devastating meeting they will nevertheless hear Jesus say: I never knew you. Away from Me you evildoer. (Matthew chapter 7 verse 23).
But God's certain promise is: You will seek Me and find Me "when" you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you. (Jeremiah chapter 29 verse 13). A person cannot find God for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman.
Jesus is the ultimate lifesaver
Christian hope is not like that of the small child who says to Mum: I hope my teacher is at school today. Christian hope is like the drowning man with the lifesaver swimming towards him. The lifesaver is the drowning man's only hope.
Our lifesaver Jesus is our only hope. There can be no deeply fulfilling earthly life nor an ecstatic forever without Him.
Christian faith involves being: "sure" of what we hope for and "certain" of what we do not see. (Hebrews chapter 11 verse 1). We can be sure and certain only because we know that Jesus is both sure and certain.
Our faith is the anchor chain which maintains the connection between us and our hope. Throughout the Christian life, our solid point is not a physical anchor but a mental, spiritual heart-felt one.
God gives to everyone adopted into His world-wide family that same hope: as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. (Hebrews chapter 6 verse 19). And whilst everyone has an indestructible soul, by choice not all will enter God's rest in heaven.
What will a healthy 'hope-anchor'protect us from?
We will no longer be: blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming, such as belief in godless evolution. (Ephesians chapter 4 verse 14).
The greatest damage caused to, and the most misleading misinformation inflicted upon mankind is the dark, aimless mindset called 'evolution'. There being NO evidence to support it (inference and opinion 'yes': evidence 'no'), this mindset does not qualify to be called a theory, just as a detective cannot formulate a theory as to what happened if there is no evidence.
If anyone questions or disputes this "NO evidence" statement, my challenge is for them to cite one piece of evidence (not opinion, conjecture, inference or interpretation) which points to, and better still supports the mindset called evolution.
The greatest benefit of receiving an education (including spiritual) is that it strengthens, empowers and enables a person to stand or walk alone, to resist foolish arguments, to oppose erroneous points of view, and to expose error.
Will it benefit us?
Yes because we will: understand what is right and just and fair...[heavenly wisdom] will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse." (Proverbs chapter 2 verses 9 & 12).
Our hope-anchor in Jesus will hold us "firm and secure" against the damaging, hurtful currents of thought in our society. Harmful worldly thinking and temptation will come our way, which we begin to recognise and resist.
The believer has been clothed with "divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God." (2nd Corinthians chapter 10 verses 4/5).
The human condition
All of us [at one time were] gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. (Ephesians chapter 2 verses1-3). And if we live in a
'consumerism-saturated'first world country, being one of its many downsides, we may still occasionally be seduced and enticed away (hopefully only briefly) from the 'straight and narrow'.
Although we will still make mistakes and stumble, God's comforting promise (His pressure release valve) is that: "If" we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from "all" unrighteousness. (1st John chapter 1 verse 9).
An unsure, uncertain world
If you sense that our world is deteriorating, that our earthly life is now more uncertain than ever before, is less appealing and daily less attractive, it is because most people live without the hope that Jesus alone gives. And that's hopeless.
Gavin Lawrie is a retired Barrister and Solicitor from Tweed Heads NSW Australia and author of the book: 'THE EVIDENCE OF EVOLUTION: Uncovering The Faulty Science Of Dawkins' Attack On Creationism'. He is married to Jan with two adult children and they are grandparents.
Gavin Lawrie's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/gavin-lawrie.html