The Dangers of Drifting Away

This is the text of my Bible study for today.

Hebrews 2:1-4

Therefore we must pay much 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.

The first chapter of Hebrews declares the excellencies of Christ. In today’s reading comes a warning and this is the warning; in light of Christ and who He is, we need to pay closer attention to what we have heard. This means what the Bible tells us and specifically what the Gospel says, has a great importance to it. It has eternal consequences.

Hebrews was technically written to the Jews, but its truths are just as important to us today. We need to pay closer attention. If we don’t, we are in danger of drifting away from it. As Christians, it is easy to drift away from the life we know we are called to live. We can neglect the commands. We can even forget the promises and the inheritance we have gained through our adoption into the family of God, and then fear and worry creep in. When that happens, we lose the confidence and the faith in the promise of Jesus. So, yes, we ought to pay closer attention to what we have heard because God was the first to declare it to us. We can also read the Bible and we can read what the apostles and early men of the church attest to.

But the warning here in Hebrews is speaking more so to the unsaved. While there are those who aggressively reject the Gospel, there are many more who simply neglect it, even though they have heard it, they admit it is a good thing, but they simply let themselves drift away from it.

There is a story about a man who fell asleep while in his boat on the Niagara River. He knew the river ended in the great falls. He never intended to float that for before turning back. But as he slept, the boat drifted all the way to the falls and suddenly it was too late. He went over the falls and died. He didn’t die because of what he did, he died because of what he didn’t do. His death was a result of drifting.

So many people say that they know they ought to do something about their salvation. They say that one day, they will. But like the man in the boat, they fall asleep and drift all the way until its too late. Please, take heed of the truth.

As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.  For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. - 2 Corinthians 6:1-2  

Now is the day to receive God’s grace. Pay attention to what you have heard, that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Don’t neglect such a great salvation.

Open up your Bible. Read of the excellencies of Christ. Learn of Him.

Most of us remember the story of the man who asked, “Sir, what must I do to be saved?” But the answer to the question of, “What must I do to not be saved?” is simply this; do nothing.  

Don’t do nothing. Don’t just drift your way to eternal damnation and separation from God. Hear the answer to “What must I do to be saved.”

"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved."

Pay close attention to what you have heard. Don’t neglect such a great salvation. Do it today, before it’s too late. Do it today because it will change your whole life and your eternity.