By admin
Editor’s note: Today’s devotion reminds all believers to stand strong amidst the storms of this life. Jesus Christ is your anchor—now and forever!
The Titanic. Everyone knows about the “unsinkable” ship that hit an iceberg and went down in the North Atlantic Ocean on April 14, 1912. The story, although tragic, seems simple enough—the iceberg ripped a hole in the side of the ship and it sank. However, there’s more to the story.
Researchers say a properly built ship would’ve stayed afloat, despite the hole, for several hours—enough time for passengers to be rescued by nearby boats. However, the Titanic had several fatal flaws.
The watertight compartments were actually not watertight at all. They could be sealed off, but only horizontally—not vertically. So, when the weight of the incoming water caused the front of the Titanic to tilt down, the water spilled over into other compartments. There were problems with the outer body of the ship, too. Experts say the wrought-iron rivets were made of substandard materials and the chemical composition of the steel plates made the hull extremely brittle in the 30-degree temperatures of the North Atlantic Ocean.
The Titanic wasn’t built right. In truth, it was never prepared to handle anything but calm seas. When trouble hit, everything fell apart. It’s an analogy that aptly applies to our lives today. Everything appears fine on the outside, but what holds us steady in troubled times?
Much like the Titanic, we are all vulnerable in unseen ways. Every man and woman since Adam and Eve has had a fatal flaw—sin. It lurks on the inside, corroding our hearts and minds. It often drives our thoughts and actions. Sometimes, we don’t even have to think about it—hurtful words spew from our mouths, selfish attitudes overwhelm the day before breakfast is even on the table. What is our anchor in this life—our sinful flesh or our heavenly Father?
That has been the question facing God’s people since creation. The Israelites anchored themselves to a golden calf and their sin kept them from entering the Promised Land. David anchored himself to a beautiful woman who was married to another man. His sinful missteps led to decades of misery in his family and his kingdom. Matthew anchored himself to the Roman government as a tax collector. Jonah anchored himself to fear and Samson anchored himself to vengeance.
When we put our trust in anything other than God, we are bound to fail. (Read 1 John 2:15–17.) Power, riches, fame, and even “doing the right thing” won’t get us anywhere. If fact, these anchors weigh us down, sinking our hopes and drowning life’s meaning.
God’s Word clearly shows us our sin, but it also shows us our Savior. God knew that sin would drive us away from him. He knew that we would never be strong enough to break away from the anchors of sin that hold us down. Our imperfect lives and our flawed hearts could never make it right. And so, he sent Jesus.
When Jesus took the weight of our sins to the cross, he was throwing our anchor of shame and guilt to the bottom of the deepest ocean. (Read Micah 7:19.) When he walked out of the tomb three days later, the tether that anchors us to all of our mistakes, our greed, our selfishness, and our sins was ripped to shreds. (Read Psalm 103:11–12.) You have been redeemed—sin holds no power over you! Jesus Christ is your anchor—now and forever!
But, that anchor of sin is a pesky one. Temptations always keep coming back, trying to drag us down. But one promise from Scripture is able to cut its ties every single time:
I can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13 KJV).
Jesus broke the chains of sin—you can do all things! You don’t have to carry around the weight anymore—you can do all things! You are free. You are forgiven. You can do all things!
With Jesus, you have one true anchor. He holds your life steady in the midst of challenges. He keeps you grounded when immeasurable blessings come your way. He emboldens you to stand up to sin’s temptations and say, “No, not today!” You can do all things with a Savior like Jesus. In peace and in suffering, with plenty or in want, Jesus Christ is your steady anchor.
