HEBREWS 2:1-3 – Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 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.
THEME OF THE DAY. BEWARE OF SPIRITUAL DRIFTING. Today’s scripture is a warning. It is the warning to be aware of the danger of spiritually drifting away from the Lord. Today’s scripture also has a nautical feel to it. I see the picture of a ship at anchor. The anchor is designed to keep the vessel in one place. Yet, due to currents, perhaps a soft bottom, or strong winds, the anchor may not hold and drift, placing the ship in danger. While in the Navy, my ships anchored a lot. Every time we did, we set an anchor watch on the bow of the ship, on the bridge and in the Combat Information Center. These watch stations were manned for one purpose – to ensure the ship did not drift; that our anchor held us in position.
In the Christian life, we need to establish a daily “spiritual anchor watch” to ensure we are heeding the warning of today’s scripture; not to drift away from the truth as it is in Jesus. And if any of us are thinking, “Not me. I would never drift away from the Lord. I love Him too much”, do two things. First, remember Peter. He said the same thing and drifted, causing a broken heart leading to painful repentance. Then think on these humbling words of the Apostle Paul, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). Back to spiritual drifting.
When it comes to this sad spiritual condition of drifting away from the Lord, we need go no further than today’s scripture to see the chief cause. It is found in verse three with the one word – neglect. By the way, the definition of a person who has drifted from the Lord is that of a “backslider.” King Solomon in his wisdom book of Proverbs reveals the characteristic of a backslider and the severe consequence such a person will reap – The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways (Proverbs 14:14a). The characteristic? The backslider lives according to his or her desires and will. The severe consequence? The backslider will reap what he or she sows. And it will never be good. But it is important for us to know that a backslider is not created overnight. No Christian suddenly becomes a backslider. No, it all begins with neglect of little things. Start missing church with ease by allowing worldly activities and events to remove us from honoring the Lord’s Day; allow the busyness of life to keep us from the Word; choose worldly things over fellowship with Christians in the Word, prayer, and service; let feelings drive our obedience, not faith, and very soon, due to these acts of spiritual neglect, the warm of first love for Christ will be lost, not might be lost, but will be lost.
The way to prevent the sin of spiritual drifting is to realize the Christian life needs constant watching. We are to be on guard against all the forces seeking to distract us, then produce neglect in us, toward the things of the Lord. And one way to “set the watch” is to heed these words of our Lord Jesus, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).
PRAYER: “Father, protect me from the subtle danger of spiritually drifting away from You.”
QUOTE: “No one just suddenly falls into a backslidden condition. It begins with spiritual neglect of little things”