PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• In Hebrews 6:19-20, it says, “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.”
Don’t you love that?!
Jesus died for us, bearing our sins, and sacrificed Himself on our behalf before a great, just, and holy God.
The God who would rightly condemn us instead frees us because Jesus paid the price.
Our souls can be anchored and secured to that incredible truth because Jesus is our High Priest.
Let’s talk about His role as priest…
The Melchizedek reference goes back to the Old Testament and the days of Abraham.
Honestly, I don’t feel qualified to try to explain him, except to say that Melchizedek of the Old Testament is believed to be Jesus Christ.
It’s really fascinating and I encourage you to read these excellent essays found on GotQuestions.org (Melchizedek and Melchizedek Priesthood).
Then, working backward, the reference to “the inner place behind the curtain.”
The inner place refers to the Holy of Holies which was the part of the temple that was inaccessible to anyone other than the High Priest.
And his access was highly limited (once a year).
But the moment that Jesus died, the curtain that separated man from God in the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:50-51).
That signifies our ability to come to God through Jesus Christ and opened the door for us to experience for ourselves a relationship with a great, just, holy, and loving God.
So yes, the anchor is an apt analogy for the One who freed us from sins and keeps us secure in the promise of eternal life.
Today, as you pray, thank Jesus for being your anchor.
Thank Him that because of His great love for you, you no longer have to drift, lost and alone, but are forever tethered to Him, the Redeemer of your soul.