Sunday 27th October 2024
We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? (Hebrews 2:1-3a)
Are you sailing or sinking?
As Christian believers, we need to assume that drifting is a real danger for every one of us, for me and for you. That’s partly why we come to church – to encourage one another! To spur one another on in the Christian life. Because we are all in danger of drifting.
C.S. Lewis put it this way in his book Mere Christianity:
“if you examined a hundred people who had lost their faith in Christianity, I wonder how many of them would turn out to have been reasoned out of it by honest argument? Do not most people simply drift away?”
It’s quite a sobering thought – we don’t suddenly decide to stop following Jesus overnight. But over time, we can drift further away from Jesus, until before we know it we are in trouble. Why must we pay the most careful attention? Because if we do not do so, we will be lost.
That’s what is at stake here. In the life of faith, we’re either swimming towards God or drifting somewhere else. So can I ask you, in love, how are you doing as a Christian? No, not the mask you might put on at church – the deep down, heart of hearts answer. How are you?
Where are you spiritually speaking? Are you sailing/rowing/drifting/sinking?
Sailing = Things are going well, feel close to God, prayers being answered.
Rowing = Maybe you are struggling in some way, but you are seeking to keep going.
Drifting = You’re letting yourself drift along in the Christian life
Sinking = Your heart has grown hard to Christian things.
If you are beginning to drift – see the danger and do something about it. Chat to a Christian friend. Ask them to pray for you. Come back to the Lord – contemplate him – what he’s done through Jesus. And pray that he would warm your heart afresh with the love of Christ. That he would remind you again of this great salvation!
Lord, I confess that my heart is often cold to you. I am in danger of drifting, distracted by other things. Please remind me afresh of this great salvation, of the love you have for me in Christ. And help me to treasure you all the more. Amen
Ben Wells, Associate Minister