Lest We Drift
Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.—Hebrews 2:1-4
It is essential that we understand that when someone “falls away from Christ” it happens over time. There is no one who is passionate about Christ one week and then instantly turns his/her back on it all. It takes time; the changes are slow; the compromises gradual. It is called drift.
And, like every professing believer, you are in danger of it unless you hear the warning of Hebrews 2:1-4 and pay closer attention to what we have heard from God’s Word.
I recently had the opportunity to go out on a large lake and swim by a weather buoy. By the time we were finished swimming, I noticed that based on where that buoy was, we had drifted a considerable distance away from where we had started in a short period of time. In a lake with no current, that’s not a real problem, but drift is a real problem to boaters and swimmers in most cases. Sailors all agree that in open seas you do not simply allow yourself to be taken by the current or blown by the wind without thought to your course and heading. Current + wind + time = drift and according to sailors, that’s not good. It can lead to all kinds of trouble and even disaster.
The same is true for believers. “We must pay closer attention to what we have heard lest we drift away from it” (Hebrews 2:1). If the truth of the Word of God is not foremost in our minds, then the current of culture or the winds of the circumstances of life will cause us to drift away from God. To contend with the threat of drift, the Christ-follower must pay attention to the Wordto contend with the culture. And it is only through close attention to the Word that we canremain faithfulagainst the winds of life’s circumstances.
We’ve all been there. On fire for the Lord when we first come to know Him, then over time, our enthusiasm begins to wane and we begin to drift. And, if we’re not paying close attention, we drift far away, without even realizing it. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Staying in God’s Word and keeping ourselves accountable with God’s people protects us from getting too far away.
Don’t neglect a “great salvation.” Pay close attention. —Todd Dugard
Journal:
· How am I making sure that I am in God’s Word every day?
· Who in my life is watching that I don’t drift too far away? Am I listening to them?
Prayer: Father God, thank You that Your Word gives warnings about drifting away from You. I get so distracted with the things of this life that I don’t realize that days go by and I haven’t even opened Your Word. Forgive me for that and help me to see that Your Word is the anchor that keeps me in a safe harbor. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
