Cleaving to the Anchor: Finding Peace and Purpose in a World of Shifting Sands By: Major Frank Materu
Key Scripture: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
Introduction
In a world reeling from tribulation and turbulence, where the ground beneath our feet feels increasingly unstable, humanity is desperately searching for an anchor. The currents of fear, confusion, and despair are sweeping over the earth’s inhabitants, threatening to toss them about and drag them under. In the midst of this spiritual and societal chaos, a clear and resonant voice calls out, beckoning all who have an ear to hear. The message is simple, yet profound: "Cleave unto Me, for I am your Maker." This is not a casual suggestion but a divine directive—an invitation to a life of stability, purpose, and unshakeable peace. It is a direct challenge to the fearful, quiet surrender of the spiritually weary and a call to a bold, confident proclamation of truth.
This lesson will serve as a comprehensive exploration of this vital message, providing a roadmap for believers to navigate the treacherous waters of our time. We will delve into the profound meaning of what it means to "cleave" to God and the powerful mission of openly testifying to His truth in a world that seeks to "shut Him out." We will examine the transformative power of gratitude and praise, not as a fleeting emotion, but as a deliberate act that shapes our lives and enables us to stand fast. Furthermore, we will draw a stark contrast between the infinite mercies of God and the hollow emptiness of the world's idols and wisdom, revealing the foolishness of relying on anything other than our Creator. We will confront the spiritual reality behind the "insanity of humanity" and discover how to maintain clarity and sanity by keeping our vision fixed on our divine Anchor. Ultimately, this lesson is a beacon of hope, reminding us that in an age of adversity and ruin, God’s way is an everlasting path of goodness, mercy, and rejoicing.
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Cleaving to the Maker: A Call to Exclusive Allegiance
The very first command we are given is the most fundamental of all: "Cleave unto Me, for I am your Maker." To cleave is to hold fast, to cling to, to adhere with loyalty and devotion. It is an act of exclusive and unwavering allegiance. This command is founded on the most profound truth in the universe: He is our Maker. This is the source of all identity, purpose, and value. To cleave to our Maker is to root ourselves in the very source of our existence. In doing so, we are not simply adopting a set of beliefs, but we are choosing to center our lives on the One who brought us into being. This is a choice that defines everything that follows. It is the single most important decision a person can make, and it is the foundation of all spiritual stability.
You shall fear the Lord your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear. (Deuteronomy 10:20). The world offers us countless things to cleave to: careers, relationships, possessions, philosophies, and fleeting pleasures. Yet, the text makes it clear that all of these are inferior to our Maker. When we cleave to Him, we are choosing the one relationship that will never fail, the one foundation that will never shift. We are not meant to be tossed about by the waves of the wicked, and the only way to avoid that fate is to be tethered firmly to the divine Anchor. Cleaving to God is an active posture, a deliberate choice to seek Him, to trust Him, and to stay steadfast in His way, which is the way of eternal life. It is through this act of allegiance that we are enabled and empowered to continue on the straight and narrow path.
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A Time for Bold Declaration: Jesus' Lordship Over All Earthly Powers
In a world where the wicked desire to "shut Me out," this message calls God's people to a bold and open proclamation. "This is not the time for My people to wither and die because they are fearful of the 'powers that be.'" Instead, it is the time to "proudly and openly declare that Jesus is Lord and He is the King of Kings." This declaration is not merely a religious slogan; it is a statement of ultimate authority. To say that Jesus is King of Kings means that "He is higher than all earthly powers." This truth is the source of our courage and the basis of our hope. No worldly ruler, no political regime, and no demonic force has authority that can supersede the authority of the Risen King.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11). The text encourages us to "rejoice as the Word of redemption goes forth" to all who will hear, repent, and believe. Our mission is to testify to those who do not know Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Our declaration is not one of condemnation, but of salvation. We are to openly proclaim that Jesus is "well able to redeem His own out of their troubles." This is the core of the Gospel message: a King who saves, a Lord who delivers, and a Savior who reigns supreme over all things. We are to be fearless witnesses, knowing that the One who has promised to keep us in safety and balance is the same One who sits on the throne of the universe.
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The Wisdom of Gratitude: A Bulwark Against Tribulation
In the midst of tribulation and turbulence, our spiritual state is to be marked not by fear, but by "the attitude of gratitude." This is not a passive emotion but an active posture of the heart that "shape[s] your lives." Giving "praise, honor, and glory unto Me" is a deliberate act that acknowledges God as the One "who is well able." This practice of thankfulness and praise is the key to remaining "steadfast in the way of eternal life." It shifts our focus from our troubles to our Deliverer, from the fleeting challenges to the eternal God. Gratitude is a spiritual weapon that counters the enemy's attempts to overwhelm us with worry and despair.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18). The text urges us to "consider the many trials and tests that you have already been through, then give thanks to Me for My mercies extended to you." This is an exercise in spiritual memory, a conscious recalling of God's faithfulness in our past. It does God's people "good to take the time to give Me thanks and praise and accept the infinite goodness that I provide." This goodness, freely given in abundance to all who believe in Jesus, includes forgiveness, compassion, understanding, wisdom, and guidance. When we remember God's repeated mercies, we find that there is "no reason to complain." Gratitude is the antidote to desolation, the wellspring of hope, and the spiritual anchor that keeps us from being tossed about by the waves of the wicked.
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God's Merciful Deliverance: The Futility of Idols and Worldly Wisdom
The text draws a clear and crucial distinction between serving the merciful God and serving "the gods of emptiness." While those who adhere to God will "know mercy again and again," those who worship idols "do not experience My mercies." This is not an act of divine prejudice but a consequence of their choice. The gods they serve are "nothing more than dumb idols and incapable to giving anything to those who serve them." Therefore, those who worship them are "left in emptiness and sorrow." This is a spiritual law: the object of our worship determines our reality. To worship an idol is to invest our hope and life into something that is ultimately empty and powerless.
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell... Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them. (Psalm 115:4-8). Furthermore, the text warns against accepting the "world's wisdom," which it labels "foolishness." The world's counsel is built on "shifting sands," and to seek it is to seek "deception and destruction." Our call is to be "quick to seek My wisdom," which is "far superior" and provides godly counsel. God's people have a rich history of being delivered from oppressors, and this deliverance was always rooted in His power and mercy, not in the wisdom of men. We must not forget this history, but rather, rely on the same God who delivered them and continues to deliver us today.
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The Rock of Eternity: Stability in a World of Shifting Sands
The message uses a powerful metaphor to describe the nature of the world: "built on shifting sands." One day, all that the world stands for will be "thrown into confusion and delusion more than they were before." This is the inevitable end of any system, philosophy, or kingdom not built on the solid rock of God's truth. Those who look to and listen to the counsel of the world are, in effect, building their lives on this unstable ground, setting themselves up for destruction. The antidote to this instability is to keep "steady and stayed upon Me." When we do this, we are promised that we will not be "left empty or desolate." Instead, we are "uplifted in the newness of life," a life that is "intended and provided for all who are believers in Me."
Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock... And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built h1is house on the sand. (Matthew 7:24, 26). The way of God, the way of eternal life, is the only stable reality in a world destined for chaos and ruin. The kingdoms of men will "crumble and lay in the rubble of ruination," but the way found in and through God "will be everlasting." This is our confident hope. We are not to be moved by the tremors of this world, because we are building our lives on a foundation that cannot be shaken. The wisdom of God provides us with the tools to build a life of permanence, a life that will endure long after the world's shifting sands have given way.
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The Insanity of Separation: When Humanity Loses Its Anchor
The text presents a sobering diagnosis of the human condition apart from God: "So many do not know who they are, nor do they know where they are headed. They are driven insane by the multitude of demonic spirits that are besetting and destroying human lives and souls daily." The "insanity of humanity without Me as the anchor of their lives" will become more and more evidenced. This is not a casual mental illness, but a profound spiritual state of confusion and lost identity. When humanity rejects its Maker and cleaves to the gods of emptiness, it loses its fundamental purpose and direction. The result is a life of perversity, adversity, and a constant state of being "tossed about."
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20). This spiritual confusion is the direct result of being besought by demonic forces. Without the Holy Spirit to guide us, human beings are left to their own devices, which are easily manipulated by the enemy. The antidote is to "continue to call upon Me, to declare Me, and to adhere to Me." We are to keep our "vision steadily upon Me," for He is the one who has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us each and every day. In a world where identity is fluid and purpose is self-defined, our sanity comes from knowing who we are as His creation and where we are headed through His eternal plan. The Holy Spirit is our anchor in the storm of confusion, providing a clear path where others have none.
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The Way of Everlasting Life: Keeping Our Vision Steadily Upon God
The final call of this message is one of endurance and unwavering focus. In the face of great tribulations, we are reminded that our purpose is not to be "subject to their desires of destruction." God’s intentions for us are "goodness and mercy all the days of your lives." The ultimate destination is an "everlasting abode of the redeemed," a place He has prepared for us. To reach this destination, we must "keep your eyes upon My purpose and daily adhere to the same." Our spiritual vision must be focused on Him, not on the chaos of the world. The world is living in fear, dreading to face another day, but we, as God's people, "can rejoice in confidence because I am the One who keeps you."
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2). This is the great race of life, and our success depends on our focus. The mercy that God extends to us is the very source of our hope, truth, and peace. We are purposed for life, and in Him, we will "rejoice to be alive." Our call is to serve Him "with gladness," knowing that He bears merciful rule over us. We are to trust that the way found in and through Him will stand forever, long after the kingdoms of men have turned to rubble. This is our confident assurance, and it is the only true source of peace in a time of great adversity.
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Summary
This lesson has been an urgent and foundational call to cleave to God, our Maker, in a world defined by turbulence and deception. We have learned that this act of allegiance is the source of all stability and that it empowers us to openly and boldly declare the lordship of Jesus over all earthly powers. Gratitude has been presented as a transformative practice that keeps us steadfast and focused on God's goodness, while we have been warned against the foolishness of worldly wisdom and the emptiness of idols. The message exposed the world as being built on shifting sands and contrasted it with the everlasting stability of God's way. We have also explored the spiritual root of human insanity and learned that our sanity is a divine gift provided by the Holy Spirit. Finally, we were encouraged to keep our eyes firmly fixed on God's purpose, knowing that His infinite mercies provide the hope, truth, and peace that will endure long after the kingdoms of this world have crumbled.
Conclusion
The choice is clear and its consequences are eternal. We can either be tossed about by the waves of the wicked, building our lives on the shifting sands of this world, or we can cleave to our Maker, finding in Him the solid rock of our salvation. The world offers confusion, fear, and ultimate ruination, but God offers goodness, mercy, and a way of everlasting life. As believers, we are not called to a life of quiet resignation but to a life of courageous proclamation and joyful gratitude. Let us remember the countless mercies we have received and give praise to the One who keeps us in perfect peace.
The Call to Action
Therefore, I urge you to:
• Make a Choice: If you have been living with a divided heart, cleave to God alone as your one and only Master.
• Practice Gratitude: Make thankfulness and praise a daily habit. In every trial, find at least one reason to give thanks to God.
• Reject Worldly Wisdom: When faced with a decision, intentionally turn away from the counsel of the world and seek God's wisdom through prayer and His Word.
• Declare Boldly: Find opportunities to proudly and openly declare that Jesus is Lord. Do not be ashamed of your faith.
• Keep Your Eyes on Jesus: In times of tribulation and confusion, consciously shift your focus from the circumstances around you to the unchanging purpose of God.
Final Word of Encouragement
Do not be afraid, for your God is well able. The chaos you see is a sign of the end of the world’s kingdoms, not the end of God’s. The insanity you witness is a sign of their lack of an anchor, not a sign of God’s absence. You can rejoice in confidence, because you are kept by the One who has already secured your place in His everlasting abode.
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Sala ya Wokovu (Prayer of Salvation)
Dear Lord Jesus,
I come to you today and I confess that I have been tossed about by the waves of the world. I have sought purpose and stability in things other than You, and I confess my sins to You. I believe that You are the Son of God, that You died on the cross for my sins, and that You were raised from the dead. I ask for Your forgiveness and I declare that I want to cleave to You alone as my Maker and my Lord. Thank You for Your infinite mercies and for providing a place for me in the everlasting abode of the redeemed. Guide me by Your Holy Spirit and keep me safe in the ark of salvation. In Your name, I pray. Amen.
