In our second section of Chapter 6, we are reminded that God keeps His promises. Even when the current evidence seems to tell us His promise is impossible. Abraham spent a looooong time believing God that he would have a son, didn’t he? He still believed when it was physically impossible for Sarah to birth a child. I love verse 15, “Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.” Of course, Abraham and Sarah did try to “help” God along when Abraham and Sarah’s maidservant, Hagar, had a son. But when you consider that 25 years passed between the promise and Isaac’s arrival, and yet Abraham still believed … well. That’s pretty amazing. And what’s the best part of this? God DID what God SAID He would DO. Yes, He did. So, we can trust Him with our salvation, as well.
How am I at “waiting patiently” for God to move? Do I have a sure faith like Abraham that God will do what He says He will do? Can I trust Him when it doesn’t happen when or how I wish it would? Abraham knew God was good and he rested in that. I need to do the same, as I wait patiently for Jesus’ return. It’s been a long wait for humankind. But He is coming again. We can count on it.
I love that our hope in eternal life is not a wistful wishing kind of hope. It’s rooted in the sure knowing that God will do what He says. Hebrews 6:19 calls it an anchor for the soul. We can rest in it and bank on it. If Charles’ Swindoll’s interpretation of this hard chapter is correct, we don’t have to fear getting “unsaved” ever. But we still want to enter the kingdom of Heaven with precious fruit to place at His feet. And may we never tire of being grateful for Jesus, the “eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek” (vs 20). He offered Himself as the final and perfect Sacrifice and therefore we are fully saved.
My verse: Hebrews 6:18, “So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.”
My response: Dear Lord, I am so glad that I can die in full confidence that I won’t! I’ll pass out of this old body into a new life in eternity that is too amazing to yet be understood. Lord – Your refuge is real and lasting and I am happily secure because I am Yours. Thank You!
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17 “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”
18 “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.”
God, thank you for your promises which are true and unwavering. Thank you that it is impossible for you to lie. I praise you for the encouragement that your words provide, that you give us hope for the future.
I love this strong assurance!
v19a “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”
Lord you are my anchor. Your ways and will never changes. I can grasp on to you firmly and confidently and know you will provide. Thank you Lord for keeping all of your promises.
Yes! I love the word anchor. It keeps a boat secure in stormy seas. And even more so, as you said so well, we can grasp firmly and confidently onto the Lord – our anchor that always holds! Hallelujah!