River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1922-07-20

walk astern to where half of the steel
mast stands upright. l have often
wondered as l watched the waves
dash over the wreck how that ship
came ashore. A dark night--a fear
ful ftorm-a tempestuous wind-a
drifting vessel-dangerous shoals-a
sandy prison. What does that vessel
needf An anchor. All, but she has
an anchor. great and ponderous. 1t
has long since gone to the bottom of
the aea but still the vessel drifts
closer ard closer to destruction. What
Is wrong? The anchor won't hold
no place for 1t to fasten Its fukes-
1t drags-it won't hOld-the ship is
doomed. She was wrecked because
the anchor would not hold. Two things
are necessary to save a vessel in the
storm when drifting at the mercy Of
wind and wave-an anchor with an
anchorage.
This is Paul's graphic picture of the
souls need. When the storms Of life
are raging, and the tempest wild
sweeps across the sea, we need some
thing to hold and something to hold
to. These are needed and these are
provided.
First, the anchor. (which hope we
have as an anchor" Our hope is our
anchor. What is hope7 The COM
bination Of desire and expectation.
1t Is that which reaches out and lays
hold. Like an anchor 1t must have
size and strength. The largeness Of
our hope determines the measur Of
Its holding power. But hope Is not
enough. The world OF ungodly men
has hope. Every walk Of life Is filed
with II. Hope Of health b~rightens
the room Of the sick. Hope OF wealth
lightens the toll Of the poor. Hope
Of fame rewards the sacrifices Of the
explorer. Hope OF noble living CON-
rensates the drudgery Of the faith
full mother, giving her life for her
children In the monotonous struggle.
But hope OF itself Is not enough. 1t
Feeds an anchorage. Something to
grip. The ship is held by the anchor
east into the unseen depth where 1t
lays hold upon the rock that cannot
be moved. No matter how strong and
u~nbreakable the anchor, 1t must hold
to aye
Second, the anchorage is Christ.
THAT which entereth the veil." my
hope is built on nothing less than
Jesus blood and righteousness" He
alone must be the object Of hope.
The whole content of Christianity can
be expressed in lwo simple sentences.
Christ for me-" that is conversion.
me for Christ" that Is consecra-
ton.
We boast not a philosophy, science,
or system. We are united to a Per-
son, united In an organic union, eter-
nally i~nseparnble by His death and
resurrection. HE was delivered for
our c.tensea, and raised for our justi-
ficafion." He is a living Christ. He
imparts His life to all who believe.
They are His-He protects and pro-
vides. He intercedes. He will come
and receive US to Himself. What can
separate US from the love Of Godf
Anchored to the Rock that cannot
move, grounded firm and deep in the
SaviOf's love. :.
Tho the angry surges roll
On my te~mpest-drtven soul.
Am peaceful. for / know,
Wildly tho the winds may blow.
I've an anchor safe and sure.
And In Christ i shall endured
Mighty tides about me sweep.
Pertls Turk within the deep,
Angry clouds o'ershade the sky,
And the tempest rises high;
still I stand the tempest's shock,
For my anchor grips the Rock!
Troubles almost whelm the soul.
Grfefs like pillows Ger me roll,
Tempters seek to lure astray.
Storms obscure the light OF day.
But In Christ ! can be bold
I'VE an anchor that shall hold!
NAarnHAd With Love Of Heaven.