The Anchor Holds

A few years ago I went camping with a friend along the Colorado River. We found a cove, a place of shelter from the surrounding desert. Trees providing shade at the water's edge noticably lowered the temperature. It was the perfect spot. One afternoon I loaded up my fishing gear onto a rubber raft and off I went into the wide Colorado River. After a few hours of fishing I decided it was time to go back. The winds had picked up and pushed the raft further from the shore. The oars seemed useless. No matter how hard I oared, it seemed I was not gaining ground. With several hours of great effort I finally put my foot on the shore. I was exhausted. The raft did not have a rudder, so it was at the mercy of the current and wind. It is a perfect picture of our society, for it has cast off its rudder and moves with the current philosophical trend or with the next charismatic politician bellowing great promises. The current and wind are blowing in the opposite direction of where God wants each one of us. If we are caught in it, it is rather difficult to get out of it. It seems the harder we try, the further away from God we get. But God has given us a rudder to guide and help us. The rudder is God's Word. God has also given us His Spirit to empower us. The Psalmist said "I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word... Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Jesus said in John 14.26 "the Counselor, the Holy Spirit... will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." God has not left us alone, but has given us His Word and His Spirit to guide us and keep us from the wrong path of life. The more we yield to the Spirit and obey His Word, the more we will resist the current of the world. God is also our anchor. When we hold onto God, His presence acts like an anchor for our souls. One doesn't have to move in order to go against the flow of society. We just have to remain connected to God and God will do the work of holding us in the place that He wants us. Are you connected to God? Then you have an anchor for your soul that will not disappoint. Are you reading God's Word? Then you have a rudder to guide you along the right path. Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? Then you have God's help every moment of every day. I came across an old song by Jeff Rickel. The words go like this: "In the presence of the Lord there is hope for those in deep distress, there is a place of peacefulness. In the presence, in the presence of the Lord." Christian, rejoice in the presence of the Lord. Blessing, Pastor Pete