Hope by E. Macomber

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Jan 12, 1864

Hope.

By E. Macomber

THE hope of Heaven is represented by the apostle Paul as the anchor of the soul. We see the propriety of this figure when we consider that the world is like a tempestuous sea—full of dangers, the course of the child of God, the voyage, Heaven the port or harbor, which he expects and desires to gain, with faith the cable rope, sincere prayer, and strict obedience to all the commands of God through Christ our captain.

Sometimes when a ship rides at anchor, dreadful storms arise: the wind blows with fury, the tempest howls, and waves roar, and beat against the vessel. But if the ship be termed seaworthy, that is, firm, strongly put together, if at the same time the cable be strong, and the anchor bites, or strikes its fluke deep into good holding-ground, all will be well. The storm may rage, rocks and quicksands may lie to leeward, threatening destruction; yet will she be secure. Sometimes top-masts and yards are to be housed, and anchor-watch kept, yet will she outride the gale.

By this we may see the proper use of hope to the Christian, which is to keep the soul calm and secure in the day of adversity. Hope does not remove trouble. It sustains the soul in the time of trouble. The anchor does not dispel the storm, it does not quiet the roaring waves, arrest the rolling thunder, nor bid the winds be still; but it enables the vessel to ride out the fury of the gale. It keeps her from being driven on the rocks of death.

The most pious Christian does not find himself exempt from the cares and calamities of this life, or free from the conflicts and difficulties of the Christian life. He often finds himself tossed upon life's raging billows; but under these circumstances, the hope of Heaven as the anchor of the soul keeps him steady; "which hope we have," says the apostle, "as an anchor to the soul, both sure and steadfast." This hope preserves him from being dashed to pieces against the rocks of temptation, destruction, and despair. It at the same time imparts a delightful sense of security in the day of trial, a blessed sense of peace amid a sea of troubles. It inspires fortitude and boldness in the cause of God. "Hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in the heart."

How oft the lonely child of God, who has not the glorious privilege of meeting those of like precious faith, feels the need of a well-grounded hope, while looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. The Lord is mindful of such. The angels of God encamp around about them. They need not fear, only to offend God. There are those who are prompted by evil angels to persecute God's elect. But my dear brother and sister in Christ, although the storms of persecution fall heavy around you, and the tide of temptation may seem to overwhelm you, and all around seems dark and dreary, seize the cable-rope by faithful prayer, think of the anchor, hope, within the veil, boded sure and steadfast where the forerunner hath already entered for us, and from whence he is soon to come to rebuke the angry storms, and to speak as he once spake, Peace, be still.

E. MACOMBER.

New Shoreham, R. I.