Every Christian Should Be Anchored To God's Word

Psalms 1:1-2, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

I receive many emails from distraught Christians who are down on life. Part of my 23-year ministry since I started my Jesus-is-Savior.com website ministry back in 2002 is helping discouraged believers find their way. All we have is each other. If we don't encourage each other in the Lord, then who is going to do it? The unregenerate (unsaved) man certainly cannot understand the things of God, for they are foolishness to him (1st Corinthians 1:18, 2:14-16).

I learned something fascinating this week about large ship anchors. I had always thought that the anchor itself held the ship, but that's not true. When a large Navy ship drops their anchor into the muck at the bottom of the ocean, as the ship continues moving forward thousands of feet of anchor is pulled into the sea. As the ships continues to pull forward, the WEIGHT OF THE CHAIN prevents the ship from moving. So it is the chain, and not the anchor, that holds the ship in place. That is fascinating science!

In a similar way, the inspired Word of God is our anchor, but the anchor is useless without applying the truths of God's Word to out life. We must let out the chain, so to speak, by making us of the Holy Bible, wallowing in it day and night. Psalms 1:1-2, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

Jesus exhorts us to 'SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES' in John 5:39; He didn't say to search Christian talk radio, Christian magazines and books, Christian videos and television, Christian seminaries and retreats, Christian commentaries, et cetera, These things are appropriate in their place, but NOTHING should ever substitute for quality time spent reading, wallowing, memorizing and studying the inspired King James Bible. GET IN THE BOOK!!!

The Uplifting and Yet Tragic Life of Philip Bliss

Here is some intriguing history...

Philip Paul Bliss (9 July 1838 – 29 December 1876) was an American composer, conductor, writer of hymns and a bass-baritone Gospel singer. He wrote many well-known hymns, including "Hold the Fort" (1870), "Almost Persuaded" (1871); "Hallelujah, What a Saviour!" (1875); "Let the Lower Lights Be Burning"; "Wonderful Words of Life" (1875); and the tune for Horatio Spafford's "It Is Well with My Soul" (1876). Bliss was a recognized friend of D. L. Moody, the famous Chicago preacher. —Wikipedia

“Let the Lower Lights Be Burning” is a precious hymn written by Philip P. Bliss (1838-1976) in 1871, emphasizing the importance of guiding others to safety and salvation, much like how lower lights help ships navigate to harbor. The hymn encourages believers to keep their spiritual light shining to help those in need.

Let The Lower Lights Be Burning

Few people know the tragic history of Philip Bliss and his wife, who were killed in 1876 (the same year Harry Ironside was born). They were killed in a fiery train crash in Ohio when a bridge suddenly collapsed in a ravine. Bliss was only 38 years old. ...

On 29 December 1876, the Pacific Express train on which Bliss and his wife were traveling approached Ashtabula, Ohio. When the train was nearly across the bridge it collapsed and the carriages fell into the ravine below. It was stated in many newspaper accounts of the time that Bliss escaped from the wreck, but the carriages caught fire and Bliss returned to try to extricate his wife. This account was only given by J.E. Burchell. As mentioned in the P.P. Bliss Memoirs, written in 1877 by D.W. Whittle this account by J.E. Burchell was only his conjecture. In fact, Mr. Whittle showed a picture of Bliss to all surviving passengers and no one recognized Mr. Bliss but only one lady who gave no account of seeing him during the accident. No trace of either Mr. Bliss or his wife, Lucy, was discovered. Ninety-two of the 159 passengers are believed to have died in what became known as the Ashtabula River Railroad Disaster. —Wikipedia

Acts 27:41-44, “And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves. And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land. And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.”

Philip P. Bliss was killed suddenly at age 38, taken to meet his Maker. Oh, dear reader, make sure you've been born again while there is yet time.