Wisdom's Corner
Don't Drift By

During the first century there were harbors (places to load and unload ships) along the Palestine coast that the Roman Empire leaders had built. Some of these were built out into the ocean. Large walls were built to keep the waves from the ocean from moving the ships around in the harbor.

These ports were built so that there was only one or two ways to get into the harbor (another name for 'harbor' is 'port'). When the ocean was calm, it was easy for the ship to sail right into the port. But if the ocean was stormy, the large waves could make it hard to get into the port.

The sailors sometimes would have to drop their anchor and let the anchor secure the ship in place. Then they could use the sails or the oars and get the ship going in the right direction into the port. Once inside the port or harbor, the large sea walls kept the water calm. The big waves could not harm the ship anymore.

In Hebrews 2:1 we read, "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip."

The words translated 'let them slip' are sailing terms. They mean letting the ship slip past the point where it is supposed to stop. And the words translated 'more earnest heed' were used by the sailors to talk about letting down the anchor.

God has given us the Bible. It contains all the instructions we need to get to heaven. But we have to use it wisely. If we do not drop our spiritual anchor into the Word, then we may miss the spiritual harbor of salvation. The storms of life may sweep us past the harbor of safety.

It is important to realize that the harbor does not move. It is built solid. It does not pass us by, we pass it by. If we miss it, it is our fault.

You must also know that once in the harbor, the anchor is kept down. This is to help make sure that the ship will not float away.

So get God's wisdom. Study the Bible and learn what is necessary to get safely into the harbor. And make sure that you keep your anchor down in the spiritual harbor of God.

Until next time, keep reading your Bible. And if any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.

Mark McWhorter

Copyright 1999

Published by The Old Paths Bible School
(http://www.oldpaths.org)