Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil. Hebrews 6:19
The sailors in the tiny ship became increasingly alarmed as they heard the roar of the waves crashing on rocks. They had approached their destination as the storm rose and darkness fell. Because they were unable to see the harbour entrance, or the nearby rocks, they feared to get any closer. But no matter how hard they worked, the sound of those huge waves falling on the rocks grew louder as the wind and currents pushed them nearer. ‘Prepare the anchor’, the captain ordered. The sailors checked to make sure the rope was securely fastened to the huge rock in the bow of the ship. They unfastened the section of railing beside the rock, and, at the captain’s command, pried the rock over the side. They heard the great splash as the rock struck the water and sank, and they watched the coiled rope play out. When the rope was at its limit, the sailors stood back and listened. The sound of the raging waves grew no louder. The anchor was holding. They retired to their bunks to sleep until daybreak. What a comfort that great anchor was! Just like the comfort we have in the great hope that God has given us for our souls.
Sailors will tell us that many an anchor has drifted and slipped, and placed their ship in great peril. Such anchors are not sure and steadfast under the worst of conditions. But no conditions can get so bad that the wonderful hope that God has given us will ever slip or fail. Our hope is as sure as the Word of God on which it is based. God’s great promises are eternally established and can never let us down. Our salvation has rescued us from the punishment that our sins deserve and granted us the daily power and confidence to live as Christian lights in a dark world. But our text points out that our hope also brings us into a very special place: within the veil.
What happened within the veil in the Old Testament? It was the place where the high priest entered to make intercession for the people and to commune with God in His very presence. This was where God dwelt. And that is what our text is referring to when it speaks of entering within the veil. No, we don’t approach a physical Ark of the Covenant with its angel-spread Mercy Seat that Aaron and his descendants approached once a year with the blood of carefully sacrificed animals. No, the blood has already been applied once for all, and we have continual access to the very presence of God. Here, we worship and appreciate His presence. Here we bring our petitions and prayers. Here we find refuge from the sorrows and burdens and attacks of the world. Can we ever place a value on such an amazing hope? -Jim MacIntosh