A Guarantor, a Steadfast Anchor, and a Clean Slate
By Dean Collins
It was a lot of money in 1979. I owed the college $1,200. I didn’t have it, and my income was $600 per month. I was about to start a campus ministry in Auburn and the yearly budget for this ministry was about $12,000, which I needed to raise from supporters. If I didn’t pay the $1,200, I was told I could not graduate. One of my professors suggested I get a loan from a local bank. I had no credit, and my one asset was a 1972 Chevrolet Vega that was barely making it and which I eventually sold for $200 because I didn’t have the money to fix it.
After the discussion with the bank, I was told that to secure the loan I would need someone to sign with me. I needed a guarantor for the loan. I proceeded to tell the professor and administrator at the college. I was definitely in a jam. To my surprise, Don Jeanes told me that he would sign with me so that I could get the loan.
Over the years, Don became a friend, a mentor, and 30 years later was the person who told me I should take the job as the president of the college which I have now served for 19 years.
Throughout my life, I have been blessed to have several men and women anchor me in times of struggle. These men and women couldn’t solve all of the challenges that I have faced as a leader, but they always pointed me to the “steadfast anchor” the writer of Hebrews described in 6:19. My mentors reminded me that while the events of life may crash over us like waves, we must remember that our future is secure in the anchor we have in Jesus. Knowing that things will be okay one day gives us the strength and courage to endure our current struggles.
Hebrews reminds us that through Christ we now have direct access to God. Jesus is the guarantor of the new and better covenant. He gave his life to pay the penalty for our sins. He stands before God on our behalf. My friend Don never had to pay my debt. Over a few years I was able to do that. Jesus, on the other hand, paid a debt for each of us that we had no capacity to pay.
Jesus is, as the writer of Hebrews says, “Our sure and steadfast anchor.” No matter how hard it gets in our lives, no matter how severe our suffering, we have the assurance that all suffering and every loss is recovered when we cross over from our temporary lives here to our eternal lives at our death.
Hebrews reminds us of a third and wonderful gift we have because of Jesus: God has wiped the slate clean. He remembers our sins no more! While we often beat ourselves up over our past mistakes, and sadly there will always be some people in our lives that want to remind us of our failures and mistakes, Hebrews tells us what Jeremiah prophesied: “For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”
Today, as you begin your day or as you end it, remember you have a better guarantor, a steadfast anchor to get you through your challenges, and a Father in heaven who has forgotten your past sins and mistakes and loves you completely.
Father, thank you for Jesus, who has paid the debt of our sins and whose Spirit dwells within us. Thank you for not holding our past mistakes against us. Thank you for your Spirit, who daily teaches us and transforms us from the inside out, giving us a clean slate and a new heart. Guide us today that we might love like you love, support and help those in need, and glorify you in all we do. In Jesus name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Hebrews 6:19-20, 7:22-28, 8:10-12; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 11:17-21 ESV
Photo by Boudewijn Huysmans on Unsplash
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