And yet, and yet…

Sometimes in ministry I get the question about the chaos that Christians face. In the examples I’m thinking about, the person wonders if sin that they’ve committed has caused God to bring judgment down upon them. They then wonder at the passage that says there’s now “no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus,” in Romans 8:1. If there’s no condemnation, why does life feel this way?

It reminds me of a picture of an anchor and a boat in a storm. When an anchor is dropped there is a certain amount of slack in the line, but some is ultimately kept in. If the line is extended, then in the midst of a storm, the boat is left with more room to be tossed back and forth by the waves. While an anchor that is dug in will hold, it doesn’t mean that the slack in the line of the boat won’t allow the waves to issue a massive beating upon the hull. When the storm hits, there needs to be an adequate tie-in to the anchor to limit the damage inflicted by waves.

In the Christian life, I see it this way: when Christians put their faith in Christ, it is as though they are anchoring themselves to Him. There is a line of grace that connects us. But when believers choose to sin, it is as though they are letting out that line of grace. They are still connected, but when the storm comes (and it will come), the beating will be that much worse. When it comes to sin in the Christian life, it doesn’t detach a believer from the anchor, but the storms certainly hurt worse than God would want for us.

When we talk about righteous actions in life, we aren’t saying that a better, more righteous life will create a stronger salvation. That salvation is set in the anchor and won’t change. Righteousness for a Christian is a result of trusting that anchor and being obedient to the length of line God calls for. When we take it upon ourselves to determine that length of line, we face the consequences.

Today friend, you may feel the weight of the storm on your bow. I encourage you, look to what Christ calls for His friends to do when you are setting your line. While you’ll still face the storm, you will feel the security that much more. “If we are faithless, He remains faithful–for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Timothy 2:13). Pull in toward Him in the ways He guides through Scripture.

Abide in the only anchor that will stay, and let’s weather this storm in hope together. “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…” (Hebrews 6:19-20).