Hebrews: Hope is the Anchor of Our Souls
Hebrews 6:19-20 - Our hope is many things in the Lord, who brings us behind the veh
“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 6:19-20 NASB1995
In the last devotional, the author of Hebrews talked about the promises and oaths of God, which creates the hope that we can take refuge in. Continuing into the last two verses of Chapter, this hope is an anchor of the soul. Of course the splendid commentary of Charles Spurgeon can be relied upon, quoted in Precept Austin and from a sermon of his entitled “The Anchor”:
The ship may not need an anchor in calm waters; when upon a broad ocean a little drifting may not be a very serious matter. But there are conditions of weather in which an anchor becomes altogether essential. When a gale is rushing toward the shore, blowing great guns, and the vessel cannot hold her course, but must surely be driven upon an iron-bound coast, then the anchor is worth its weight in gold. If the good ship cannot be anchored, there will be nothing left of her in a very short time but here and there a spar. The gallant vessel will go to pieces, and every mariner be drowned; now is the time to let down the anchor, the best bower anchor if you will, and let the good ship defy the wind.
Our God does not intend His people to be shipwrecked. Shipwrecked and lost, however, they would be if they were not held fast in the hour of temptation. If every wind of doctrine whirled you about at its will, you would soon be drifted far away from the truth as it is in Jesus, and concerning it you would make shipwreck. But you cost your Lord too dear for Him to lose you. He bought you at too great a price, and sets too great a store by you for Him to see you broken to pieces on the rocks. Therefore He has provided for you a glorious holdfast, that when Satan’s temptations, your own corruptions, and the trials of the world assail you, hope may be the anchor of your soul, both sure and steadfast.
Quite often I have to pause and realize the great, great price that the Lord paid to redeem us. It is certainly a way to focus in on the sure hope and love that we have been showered with.
A few devotionals ago, I shared a useful list of things from Bruce Hurt (creator of Precept Austin) that are of this world that are incomplete when compared to pressing on to maturity (like not progressing in school and a child refusing to grow). He has created another useful list for this passage illustrating the steadfastness of the anchor of Christ (This is long, but I think it is just wonderful and is one of the best things I have read on that site):
1. Ship’s Anchor in a Storm
A ship caught in furious waves throws its anchor forward. Unlike earthly anchors that sink into mud, this one is carried upward through the veil into heaven, fastening to the throne of God. The ship may toss and heave, but it cannot drift away because its anchor is secure.
(Security in Christ, not circumstances.)
Sailors in a violent storm will cast their anchor, trusting it will dig deep into the seabed and hold the ship steady until the storm passes. But what if the anchor itself could be carried into the safest harbor and hooked directly onto an immovable rock? That is the picture the writer of Hebrews paints. Our hope is not tossed down into shifting sand, but carried upward into heaven itself and anchored to the throne of God. Storms may rage, but the ship of faith cannot drift.
2. Mountain Climber’s Rope
A climber, dangling over a cliff, drives a piton into the rock above and ties his rope to it. His life depends on the strength of that rock and the security of the rope. Our hope is the rope—Christ has anchored it in the heavenly Rock, and we can rest knowing it will not fail.
(Hope tied to Christ’s permanence.)
A climber scaling a dangerous cliff drives a piton into the rock above him and ties his rope securely. He knows his life depends not on his strength but on the firmness of the rock and the grip of the rope. Our hope functions the same way. It clings to the eternal Rock within the veil, and because Christ has secured it, we cannot fall to destruction.
3. Bank Guarantee
When depositing money, the guarantee is the FDIC seal—your money is secure no matter what happens. God’s oath and promise are the “divine guarantee.” Our hope is not wishful thinking, but a backed, guaranteed security anchored in God Himself.
(God’s promise + oath as divine insurance.)
When you deposit money in the bank, you don’t worry that it will vanish overnight. The FDIC guarantee backs it with the government’s authority. Our hope has something infinitely better — God’s unchangeable promise and His oath. Two “divine guarantees” that make it more secure than any bank or contract. Hope is not wishful thinking; it is backed by the eternal faithfulness of God Himself.
4. Child Holding Parent’s Hand
-In a busy street, a child holds his father’s hand. But the child’s security is not in his weak grip on the father, but in the father’s strong grip on him. So our hope is not our hold on God but God’s hold on us in Christ within the veil.
(Security rests in God’s grip, not ours.)
A child in a crowded street may think he is safe because he is holding his father’s hand. But in reality, the child’s grip is weak—it is the father’s strong hand holding him fast that ensures safety. In the same way, our hope is secure not because of how tightly we cling to Christ, but because Christ has entered within the veil and holds us with His mighty grip.
5. Courtroom Advocate
A defendant fears condemnation, but his advocate has already gone inside the judge’s chambers with irrefutable evidence securing acquittal. That’s Christ—our Forerunner has entered within the veil, securing our eternal verdict: “No condemnation.”
(Jesus interceding before the Father.)
A defendant trembles, waiting for the verdict. But his advocate has already gone inside the judge’s chambers carrying irrefutable evidence that secures acquittal. The defendant cannot see what’s happening behind those closed doors, but he knows his case is safe. That’s what Christ has done. He has gone within the veil as our Advocate, and because He stands before the Father, our eternal verdict is secure: no condemnation in Christ Jesus.
6. Tethered Astronaut
An astronaut outside the spacecraft, tethered by a strong lifeline, floats in space. His life depends on that tether. Our soul is like the astronaut; our tether is hope, and its anchor point is inside the heavenly sanctuary with Christ.
(The line may seem invisible, but it is unbreakable.)
Picture an astronaut working outside the space shuttle, floating in the blackness of space. His security does not come from his own strength or skill but from the tether that fastens him to the craft. Our soul is like that astronaut — suspended in a vast and hostile world. Our lifeline is hope, and that line is fixed not to earth but inside the heavenly sanctuary, tied to Christ Himself. As long as He holds us, we can never drift away.
7. Vault Security
When someone deposits precious treasure in a bank vault, it is out of sight but secure. Our hope is “within the veil”—unseen, but safeguarded in the most secure place in the universe: the presence of God.
(The unseen reality is the most secure one.)
People place valuables in a bank vault because it is impenetrable, climate-controlled, and guarded. Even if everything outside collapses, the contents inside remain untouched. Our hope is stored in a vault far more secure than any bank—in the very presence of God within the veil. Nothing in this world can touch it.
8. Harbor Pilots
In ancient harbors, a small boat would carry the anchor ahead into safe water, fastening it, so the ship could be drawn in. That boat was called the forerunner. Christ has entered heaven as our Forerunner, securing our hope in glory.
(Direct tie to v. 20 and the prodromos imagery.)
In the ancient world, great ships faced danger when approaching shallow or narrow harbors. They could not safely enter on their own. Instead, a smaller vessel called the forerunner would take the ship’s anchor, row ahead into safe water, and lodge it securely. Then the larger ship would be winched into safety, following the anchor already in place.
That’s the exact picture the writer of Hebrews paints. Jesus Christ is our Prodromos— our Forerunner. He has gone before us, entering within the veil, carrying our hope into the very presence of God, and fastening it to His throne. We are like the great ship still at sea, battered by waves. But because the anchor is already in the harbor, fastened securely, we know with certainty we will be drawn in after Him. Our destiny is as sure as His presence in glory.
9. Sealed Document
In ancient times, a king’s decree was sealed with his signet. Once sealed, it was unchangeable. Our hope is sealed both by God’s promise and His oath (Heb. 6:17–18), making it doubly secure.
(Hope guaranteed by God’s unchanging character.)
In the ancient world, when a king issued a decree, he would press his signet ring into wax and seal the document. That seal made the decree unchangeable and irrevocable. Once sealed, no one could alter it. It carried the full authority of the king himself.
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that God has done even more. He gave His promise to Abraham, and then, as if to silence every doubt, He confirmed it with an oath. Two unchangeable things — His promise and His oath — seal our hope. Just as no man could break the seal of an earthly king, so nothing can undo the word of the King of kings. Our hope is doubly secured, sealed not with wax but with the very character of God, who cannot lie. That means the believer’s confidence is not a wish but a certainty — a decree written and sealed in heaven itself.
10. Light Behind the Curtain
Imagine a bright light behind a heavy curtain. Though you cannot see it directly, you know it is there because the glow leaks through. Our hope has “entered within the veil”—we don’t yet see it fully, but its light assures us of its reality.
(Faith sees what eyes cannot.)
Stand in a dark room with a thick curtain covering a window. You may not see the sun directly, but beams of light slip through, assuring you it is there. So it is with hope. We don’t yet see Christ face to face, but the light of His presence shines through the veil, reminding us our hope is real, secure, and eternal.
11. Lighthouse Beam
A ship lost at sea at night can’t see the harbor, but the steady beam of a lighthouse pierces the darkness. Hope is like that beam—fixed in heaven, guiding us home though storms surround us.
(Hope directs and steadies us in the dark.)
On a stormy night, sailors straining at the ropes can see nothing but darkness and waves. Yet far ahead, a steady beam cuts across the water from a lighthouse on shore. That light never wavers and never fails to point the way home. That’s what hope does for the Christian. Even when life feels pitch black, hope shines from heaven, directing our eyes to Christ and assuring us that safe harbor lies ahead.
12. Wedding Ring
A wedding ring is a visible token of an invisible covenant. Our hope functions similarly—anchored in God’s oath and promise. Even though we don’t yet see the consummation, the symbol reminds us of what is guaranteed.
(Hope is covenant assurance, not guesswork.)
A wedding ring is just a circle of metal, yet it carries profound weight. It is the visible sign of an invisible covenant. Even if husband and wife are miles apart, the ring reminds them of their promise and bond. Our hope is like that. We don’t yet see Christ face to face, but the presence of hope, grounded in God’s oath and promise, is the “ring” that assures us the covenant is real and unbreakable.
13. Compass Needle
A compass needle always points north, no matter how tossed or turned. Hope works the same way—orienting the soul toward Christ in heaven.
(Hope keeps direction when disoriented by life.)
A compass needle doesn’t argue or wander—it always points north, no matter the storms around it. Hope works the same way. It continually points our soul toward heaven, toward Christ our Forerunner. Even when life spins us in circles, hope stabilizes our direction and guides us safely home.
14. Bridge Support Piers
A bridge may sway, cars may shake, but deep below the water massive piers hold it immovable. Our hope is those piers, sunk not in mud but in the throne room of God.
(Hope stabilizes what otherwise would collapse.)
Drive across a bridge on a windy day, and you may feel the roadway sway beneath your tires. But below the surface, unseen by the eye, are enormous piers sunk deep into the bedrock of the river. They don’t move. That’s what our hope is like. Life may shake and tremble, but the unseen support of Christ within the veil is what keeps everything from collapsing. Our anchor is sunk deeper than any storm can reach.
15. Kite in the Sky
A child flies a kite on a windy day. The kite disappears into the clouds, yet the tug on the string assures the child it’s still aloft. Our hope is like that string—anchored beyond our sight, but very real.
(We feel the pull of heaven though we cannot yet see it.)
On a breezy afternoon, a child lets a kite soar higher and higher until it disappears into the clouds. Though the child cannot see it, the steady tug on the string assures him the kite is still flying. Our hope is like that string. Though our anchor is out of sight—hidden in heaven—we feel its pull. We know it is real and secure, drawing us upward toward our eternal home.
16. Hospital Waiting Room
A family waits anxiously for word of their loved one in surgery. They rest secure because the surgeon is skilled and trustworthy. So we wait in life’s “waiting room,” our security resting in the Great Physician who has entered behind the veil.
(Hope rests in the competence of Christ.)
A family sits nervously in the waiting room while their loved one undergoes surgery. They can’t see what’s happening behind those closed doors. They have no control. Yet they rest their confidence in the surgeon’s skill. That is how hope works. We cannot yet see what Christ is doing behind the veil, but we rest secure, knowing that He is the Great Physician at work, ensuring our ultimate healing and deliverance.
17. Fireproof Safe
Important documents (birth certificate, will, deeds) are placed in a fireproof safe. Even if the house burns down, they remain secure. Our eternal hope is stored in the safest place—the very presence of God.
(No fire, storm, or trial can touch it.)
Families keep their most precious documents—marriage licenses, deeds, wills—in a fireproof safe. If the house burns down, those documents survive. That is a picture of hope. Though the fires of trial may consume what is earthly, our hope is locked away in the safest place possible—the sanctuary of heaven.
18. Electric Current
The power source is hidden behind walls and wires, unseen, yet it energizes the home. Hope “within the veil” is unseen, yet it energizes faith and perseverance daily.
(Hope unseen still empowers life.)
The average person never sees the electric current that powers their home. The wires are hidden in the walls, the source is miles away. Yet when they flip a switch, the lights come on, and the unseen power becomes obvious in its effects. Hope functions like that. We cannot see heaven’s realities, but hope “within the veil” energizes our faith and endurance. Its effects are unmistakable, even if the source is invisible.
19. Airline Pilot’s Autopilot
When fog reduces visibility, the pilot trusts the instruments. Hope is our spiritual instrument panel, keeping us steady on course toward heaven, not by sight but by trust.
(Hope is faith applied to navigation.)
When thick fog blankets the sky, a pilot cannot trust his eyes. Visibility is too limited. Instead, he must rely on the instrument panel and autopilot system that guide him safely to his destination. Our hope is like that spiritual instrument panel. We may not see clearly in the fog of suffering and doubt, but hope keeps us steady on course toward heaven. We trust not what we see, but what God has promised.
20. Anchor Rope in Ancient Harbors
Historically, small boats (forerunners) carried an anchor into the harbor and lodged it onshore. The larger ship would then be pulled safely in by the rope. That’s exactly the image in Heb. 6:19–20—Christ our Forerunner has anchored hope inside heaven, and we are being drawn in after Him.
(Hope is a living tether to our future glory.)
In ancient harbors, large ships couldn’t safely approach the dock on their own. Instead, a smaller boat called the forerunner would carry the anchor into the harbor and lodge it firmly. Then the larger ship would be winched safely into port. That is exactly what Christ has done. He is our Forerunner, who has carried our hope behind the veil and fastened it to the very throne of God. We are being drawn in after Him.
I can only dream of writing something this effective and profound, but I’m thrilled to “borrow” it for our readers. I would create a summary list, but you can grab the items in parentheses in this delightful commentary as a way to summarize Bruce Hurt’s comparisons for our hope in God’s promises and oaths.
Jesus is our forerunner behind the veil. Recall in the OT, the veil in the Tabernacle or Temple separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, symbolizing the separation of God from humans because of sin. Once a year, the High Priest could enter behind the veil, on the Day of Atonement. Jesus, upon His death on the Cross for our salvation, tore down the veil and His Resurrection makes Him our forerunner into the Holy of Holies in the present of God. I’ll end this with another Charles Spurgeon commentary from Precept Austin:
Is He your Forerunner? Then run after him. There can be no forerunner, as I have said before, unless somebody follows. Jesus is our Forerunner, so let us be his after-runners. “Ah!” says one, “but he is so different from us.” The beauty of it is that he is not different from us, for he was a man like ourselves. “Therefore, since the children share in blood and flesh, he also in like manner shared in these same things” (Heb 2:14) Though in Him was no sin, yet in all other respects He was just such as we are. And it cost Him as much to run as it will cost us to run; indeed, more, for His race was more arduous than ours is. “You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood as you struggle against sin” (Heb 12:4); therefore “consider the one who endured such hostility by sinners against himself, so that you will not grow weary in your souls and give up” (Heb 12:3). Your road may be full of crosses, but they are not such crosses as the one He carried. You have suffered bereavements; yes, and “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). You have to endure poverty; and He had nowhere to lay His head. You are often despised, and He is still “despised and rejected by men” (Isa 53:3). You are slandered; but as they called the Master of the house Beelzebub, what wonder is it that they speak ill of those who are the members of His household?
Jesus Christ ran the very race that you have to run, and He ran it perfectly. That same power that wrought in Him to run until he entered within the veil, and so passed the goal, will help you to run till you reach the same spot. If He is your Forerunner, and He has run the race, it is essential that you should run it too, and should also win the prize. Courage; nothing is too hard for our poor manhood to accomplish through the power of the ever-blessed Spirit. As Christ has conquered, so can we. Sin’s assaults can be repelled, for Christ repelled them. The Holy Ghost can lift up “poor human nature”—as we call it—into something nobler and better, transforming it into the likeness of the human nature of the Christ of God, till in that human nature purity and holiness even to perfection shall dwell.
We follow our forerunner into Glory!
At the end of this passage, we are back to the comparison of Jesus to the High Priest Melchizedek. Chapter 7 delves into this in detail again. My next devotional examines Hebrews 7:1-3, A introduction to a better priesthood.
Heaven on Wheels Daily Prayer:
Dear Lord - Quite a long time ago, someone recommended the incredible repository of commentary known as Precept Austin. This has been a lifeline for me doing these devotionals and there are no coincidences so I know that You had that person tell me about Bruce Hurt and the amazing work that he has done. Thank you, Lord! Amen.
Special prayer request: This devotional publishes on the day I am scheduled for eye surgery (vitrectomy and macular pucker membrane removal). Your prayers are greatly appreciated for a successful operation, some restoration of eyesight and no additional concerns like a retina detachment. Blessings!
Credits and Citations:
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.Lockman.org.
Precept Austin was accessed on 11/28/2025 to review commentary for Hebrews 6:19-20.
The Charles Spurgeon full sermons can be accessed at these links:
https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/the-anchor/#flipbook/
https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/the-forerunner/#flipbook/