Hebrews 6:13–20 (ESV)
“For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, ‘Surely I will bless you and multiply you.’ And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”
Treacherous Waters: The Drake Passage
South of Cape Horn, where the Atlantic and Pacific oceans collide, lies the Drake Passage— the most treacherous stretch of water on the planet. Sailors tell stories of violent storms rising without warning, waves as tall as buildings, and winds so fierce they can tear sails to shreds in seconds. The currents swirl unpredictably, creating a watery grave for countless ships throughout history.
For mariners daring to cross this passage, there is no safe harbor in the middle. No detours. The only option is to go through. And if your anchor doesn’t hold—if your vessel cannot withstand the chaos—your fate is sealed.
This imagery of desperate dependence upon a steadfast anchor helps us understand the picture Hebrews 6 paints for us.
“Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor”
When hymn writers Matt Boswell and Matt Papa penned the words to Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor, it was this kind of seafaring treachery they had in mind. “Through the floods of unbelief / Hopeless somehow, O my soul, now / Lift your eyes to Calvary…” These lyrics echo the storm-tossed desperation of sailors in the Drake Passage.
There is no escape from life’s storms, no alternative route around suffering, sin, or death. We must face them head-on. And yet, unlike the sailors whose ships lie broken on the ocean floor, the Christian’s anchor does not fail. Christ is the steady anchor who holds fast when all else gives way.
The Veil of Death
Hebrews 9:27 reminds us of a sobering truth: “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” Like those sailors, every one of us must pass through waters from which there is no turning back. No one cheats death.
Jesus has already torn the veil of the temple in two (Matthew 27:51), giving believers direct access to the throne of grace. Yet one veil remains before us—the veil of death. It is frightening, for we cannot see beyond it with earthly eyes. We know eternity is there, but like staring across the Drake Passage in a storm, the other side is hidden.
That is why we need an anchor, one that grips not the shifting sands of this world, but the eternal Rock who stands beyond death’s veil.
The Anchor Within the Veil
In Old Testament worship, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies once a year, carrying blood for the sins of the people. A rope was tied around his ankle so he could be pulled out if he died in God’s holy presence due to impurity.
Now consider the glorious reversal the gospel provides:
- Instead of us tying a rope to a high priest to bring him back, our Anchor—Jesus Christ—has already gone in before us.
- He has entered not into an earthly temple but into the very presence of God on our behalf.
- The anchor rope does not tie Him to us but ties us to Him.
We are the ones being pulled into the holy presence of God—not by our own strength, not by our own purity, but by Christ, our High Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Samuel Rutherford once said, “When we are put to swim our Master’s hand is under our chin.” What a picture of Jesus as our anchor! He not only secures us but gently upholds us so we do not sink.
Anchored in the Promise
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that God made a promise to Abraham, swearing by Himself because there was no one greater by whom to swear. His oath was not based on Abraham’s faithfulness but on God’s own unchangeable character.
That same promise extends to us: “So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath…” (Hebrews 6:17).
In other words, your assurance is not rooted in the strength of your grip on Christ but in His unbreakable grip on you. The rope may feel taut when life’s storms shake us, but it will never snap.
The Assurance of Salvation
This truth leads us to a vital message on assurance. Many believers wrestle with the question: “Am I truly saved?” They fear their sin has cut them off, that their weak faith cannot sustain them, or that they may not make it through the veil of death.
But assurance rests not in the sailor but in the anchor. Our hope is “a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul” (Hebrews 6:19). Jesus has already passed through the storm, already entered behind the veil, already secured the presence of God for His people.
When doubts arise, we must remember:
- Christ intercedes for us even now at the right hand of God (Romans 8:34).
- Nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38–39).
- He is faithful to complete the work He began in us (Philippians 1:6).
The rope tied to our Anchor cannot break. And when the day comes that we must pass through death’s waters, we will discover not a chasm of uncertainty but the firm hand of our Savior, drawing us home.
Held Fast by Love
The Drake Passage has claimed thousands of lives. Its storms remind us how small and fragile we truly are. But in Christ, the treacherous waters of sin and death have no claim on us. He is the Anchor within the veil—secure, immovable, unbreakable.
We may tremble on the deck as the waves rise, but the anchor will not give way. Jesus Christ has gone before us, and because He holds, we are held.
So Christian, lift your eyes from the storm and fix them on your Anchor. The rope is tied fast. The other side is secure. And the Master’s hand is already beneath your chin.
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