Anchor Lost

Jails don’t always have locks and bars, but many people are confined anyway – folks that stumble about trying to find some kind of life that will satisfy; they avoid Jesus while searching and never finding peace within.  Sometimes it’s due to personal choice and sometimes wandering is thrust upon them.          

       Being an unfortunate victim of “news” watching, I’ve found it surprising how many jails the world provides right outside our Church doors.  There’s a multitude of sensual offerings available for those who choose to abandon their sanctuary.  As belief, stability and security diminish, desire for what the world offers settles in. Then, with great pleasure, the world quickly accommodates and imprisons.  Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us not to forsake meeting together.  Willing participation and worship with others is critical to finding God, knowing Jesus and furthering Christian growth.  Joining with others in Christ’s Church will help set the anchor that prevents an unhealthy lust for the world’s activities and stuff.

       After separation from God and other believers what can happen?

       Drugs, alcohol, sex and electronics are common jails, as are the earthly “movements” that ambush folks.  Within the world’s “causes,” life’s anchor is forsaken as people become blind to the love and beauty God provides and choose to frantically chase after change for one ideal or another.  Some causes are good; some are good only on the surface; others are based in mere selfish wants that diminish our humanity while destroying health and happiness; many are soul-destroying beliefs created from personal opinions existing outside of reality.  These pursuits often increase the need for psychiatric care.

       There are multitudes of people in our society don’t know Jesus, don’t understand Him and don’t want to.  Too many were children who grew up in dysfunctional homes without love, where survival was the only reason for living.  Adolescents with no anchor, pursuing only what’s needed or wanted in the moment.  Without timely intervention, they float from thought to thought with most of their outside input from screens or others with similar problems.  There is nothing secure for them to hang on to when challenges, temptations or prosperity arises.  Sadly, many of these youth fall into a worldly jail, literally or figuratively – with so many available it’s easy to find one or several.  Hopefully, somebody will help them understand Jesus Christ and explain that worldly sin will not separate anyone from the love of God (Romans 8:38).

       When we’re apart from Jesus, His squashed and grieved spirit cannot work within – our anchor is lost.   The world offers temptations of every type, but without the Holy Spirit guiding our conscience there’s no earthly way to truly discern what is right, wrong, good, bad, or evil.  Following a time in captivity it may be hard to return to Christ; but whatever happens, please remember that Jesus forgives and will welcome us back – that’s what true love does (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).

       These are only two examples of God’s sons and daughters lost in society, there are more but all have the same result regardless of cause or social position; an unfulfilling, unhappy life always striving for something.  Jesus is that something, but how can folks know – how can Christ’s church bring Jesus to people who don’t know they need Him?