Dear Christian friends:

This evening we attend to the Anchor Cross which you see here. Once again we thank Mr. Robert Harris for making this beautiful cross for us to look at.

Who first used the Anchor Cross? It was often found in the catacombs of Rome. What are the catacombs? They are caves around the city of Rome found in the hillsides. Criminals and others often used these caves to hide from the police. And because it was against Roman law during the first two centuries A.D. to be a Christian, the Christians met in these caves for their church services and other meetings, so they would not be arrested. They had to disguise their church things so that if the police happened to find their meeting place they would not know it was a Christian meeting place. That is how the drawing or carving of a fish happened to become the sign for a Christian church or home. The fish was a secret sign identifying the Christians' meeting places or homes. That is also the reason why they began to use the anchor instead of the regular Latin cross. The police knew that a Latin cross meant a Christian meeting place, but they didn't know that the anchor of a ship disguised a cross. The police perhaps thought it was a meeting place for sailors. So the anchor became the secret cross of the Christians during the many years of persecution.

The Anchor Cross is also called the Cross of Hope. Why? Because of the purpose of a ship's anchor. In a storm the anchor is dropped so that it will hook into the floor of the sea and hold the ship securely so that it is not driven by the wind upon rocks of the reef or shore. The sailors hope they will be saved from the terrible storm by the anchor. So the Christian feels hope when he sees the Anchor Cross. Although the Christian lives through many troubles and storms of life, he does not give up hope. The cross of Jesus is the anchor for his soul. In times of trouble and storms of life the Christian remembers Jesus’ death on the cross. He knows that God loves him and has forgiven all his sins. He knows that these troubles and storms of life do not mean that God is angry or that God has forsaken him. Many people think that when they have great troubles. But the Christian has hope in his heart. He knows that these storms of life will soon be passed and over and he believes that he will finally be saved from all troubles and temptations, and trials of this world. He hopes that he will finally arrive in the heavenly harbor.

In our text we read, "This certain hope of being saved is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls, connecting us with God Himself behind the sacred curtains of heaven, where Christ has gone ahead to plead for us." Not only has Christ died for our sins on the cross, but He is alive and sitting at God's right hand, "pleading for us." And what does He plead? He reminds God of His Word and promises, so that God will not forsake us in our trouble, but bring us safely through the storms and temptations of life to our heavenly home.

In the future when you see the Anchor cross on a banner or in a stained glass window, or when you see an anchor, remember the courage of the early Christians, how they had strong faith and courage although they suffered great persecution. The Anchor Cross gave them great hope. May it give you hope and courage, too, during your own storms of life.

Amen.

My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
in every high and stormy gale,
my anchor holds within the veil.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.
(My Hope is Built on Nothing Less,
Hymn verses 1-2)