THE DANGER OF DRIFTING

THE DANGER OF DRIFTING
Heb 2:1-9
"…so that we do not drift away." (v.1)

TODAY'S PASSAGE IS THE FIRST OF five warning passages located at strategic parts of Hebrews (see 3.7-4.13; 5.11-6.12; 10.19-39; 12.1-29). The first warning is against drifting. It gives us an idea of the danger the readers then were facing, as well as the danger we too face in our day.

The word translated "drift away" may be used of a ring slipping off a finger or a boat drifting past a harbour. The act is not deliberate. Rather it is brought about by negligience or carelessness. The readers of Hebrews were in danger, not of falling away suddenly, but of drifting away gradually from their faith.

Any of the following reasons could be the cause of our drifting. We are complacent, thinking we have "arrived" in our faith when we are still a long way off. We are apathetic, not paying attention to things of spiritual importance. We are simply ignorant, unaware that we need constantly to keep watch.

The author of Hebrews sounds a solemn warning, "How can we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?" (v.3). He returns to the theme at the beginning of the epistle. God had accomplished such a grand redemption for us. He had spoken and acted. How can we ignore the Lord and allow ourselves to drift?

A story is told of an orphanage in war-torn Vietnam. Mortar shells fell on it one day, and some children were wounded. One of them, an eight-year-old girl, was in a most critical condition. An appeal was made for someone to give blood. No one came forward. Finally, a little boy volunteered. As he laid on the bed to have his blood taken, he began to sob uncontrollably. The doctor who did not speak his language could not understand why he sobbed. A nurse was asked to speak to him. In a few moments, the boy stopped crying and a smile came to his face.

"What happened? What did you tell him?" asked the doctor. "Well," the nurse explained, "he thought you were going to take all his blood out, and that he was going to die." The doctor was impressed. "If he thought he was going to die, why did he volunteer?" The nurse interpreted his answer, "He said the one who needed his blood is his friend." "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15.13).

Jesus "suffered death so that… he might taste death for everyone" (v.9). Knowing this, how can we ignore God, neglect His great salvation, and allow ourselves to drift from His presence?

Am I in danger of drifting?