Anchors aweigh? No, anchored always!!

From: Ben Kelley
Subject: Anchors aweigh? No, anchored always!!

Anchors aweigh!" is taken from the unofficial (though there is a move in process to make it the official) song of the U.S. Department of the Navy. This song was created in 1906 for use at the annual Army-Navy football game as a rousing "fight" song. I've seen many people mistakenly spell the second word of its title as "away." The correct spelling indicates lifting the anchor off the bottom to free the ship for unhindered sailing, not getting rid of it.

I thought of this as I heard the Cathedral Quartet singing the song, "The Haven of rest." This song presents a great spiritual truth ( see the full lyrics below). We, as those who have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior, are securely held via an unbreakable chain and anchor. That anchor is permanently embedded into the One we call the Solid Rock. Though the storms may rage and the waves may crash, by His own Word, we are kept secure. Whether the tide is in or out, HE keeps us from crashing on the rocks, or drifting out to sea. When we let the truth of that sink into our souls, we are able to receive a greater peace than we can have through any thing else. We are kept in His arms, safe and secure in that Haven of rest. Hear God's Word speak: HE added an oath, in order that, through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for Him to prove false, we may possess mighty encouragement--we who, for safety, have hastened to lay hold of the hope set before us. That hope we have as an anchor of the soul--an anchor that can neither break nor drag. (Hebrews 6:18-19 Weymouth New Testament)

There may be times you feel as if you're adrift, at the mercy of the tides and winds, but if you will just take a moment to look and listen, you will hear the creak of that chain and feel its gentle yet powerful pull. Then there are times when the water is so calm and still, you don't notice the anchor is still there and you forget its importance. There may be other times you are tempted to yell "anchors aweigh," because you hear the sirens' call of temptation to sin. They sing their song so enticingly you think you want to temporarily weigh that old anchor and be free to sail their way. If you are God's child, that attempt will end in a sharp jerk as the anchor chain plays out to its full length and you are held by its power. When you do, be thankful HE didn't let you crash on the hidden reefs. That anchor is not a hindering restraint, but a Heavenly rescue.

My soul in sad exile was out on life's sea,
So burdened with sin and distressed,
Till I heard a sweet voice saying, "Make Me your choice,"
And I entered the haven of rest.

Refrain:
I've anchored my soul in the haven of rest,
I'll sail the wide seas no more;
The tempest may sweep o'er the wild, stormy deep;
In Jesus I'm safe evermore.

I yielded myself to His tender embrace,
And, faith taking hold of the word,
My fetters fell off, and I anchored my soul;
The haven of rest is my Lord.

The song of my soul, since the Lord made me whole,
Has been the old story so blest Of Jesus,
who'll save whosoever will have
A home in the haven of rest.

How precious the thought that we all may recline,
Like John, the beloved and blest,
On Jesus' strong arm, where no tempest can harm,
Secure in the haven of rest.

O come to the Saviour, He patiently waits
To save by His power divine;
Come, anchor your soul in the haven of rest,
And say, "My Beloved is mine."