The Danger of Drifting Away
Hebrews 2:1-4
By Dr. R Bruce Montgomery
INTRO
We were having a honeymoon picnic on Lake Taneycomo in Branson, Mo - . After pulling to shore to eat, I put our blanket and food back into the boat. My bride Connie thought she should help, and she put the anchor into the boat & it’s began to drift away. Fortunately the current was slow enough that I was able to quickly jump into the water and catch the boat!
Passage is about the danger of drifting away and the importance of paying careful attention to God’s Word of salvation through Jesus.
Examine some details of these verses:
No chapter breaks in the original document. “Therefore” - refers back to all that’s come before, to chapter 1. There is a sequential connection. Reference to Christ’s supremacy. Because Jesus is so GREAT:
Since Jesus is supreme heir (1:2)
“ “ “ creator (1:2)
. . . radiance of God’s glory (1:3)
. . .exact representation of God’s being (1:3)
. . .sustainer of universe by powerful word (1:3)
. . .supreme purifier of sins (1:3)
. . .supreme ruler (1:3)
and since He is superior to the angels (1:4-14), therefore
must pay more careful attention to the what God has spoken in Jesus, than even to the attention given to message through prophets and angels.
What God has spoken in Jesus must be taken seriously -
“Must” (2:1) = is of utmost necessity, non-optional if we’re going to keep ourselves from drifting.
Need for discernment, distinguishing between what is merely optional and what is essential in all areas of life – none more so than the spiritual life.
“More” - than what? cf. to law and prophets, various ways God has spoken in the past.
Now need to listen to “what has been heard, “ that which was spoken through Son.
Logical imperative: from the fact that Jesus is supreme, the revelation delivered through the Son must be regarded with the utmost seriousness.
Reason for such diligence is so we “do not drift away” (1a)
Drifting is a danger we all face.
There are many contemporary currents tugging on our souls, that would sweep us away.
The world is always tugging at us. Peer pressure, keeping up with the Joneses,
Easy to “let go” and “go with the flow”
Tendency = drift along with earthly things away from the gospel
All of us know of Christians who are no longer walking with God. Look around - where’s _________ that was here? What happened?
Examine our own hearts - are we as close to the Lord as we once were? Are we spending as much time in prayer?
Hungry for God’s word?
Expectant and eager to gather?
Passionate to share the good news with those who are not yet Christ-followers?
There is no standing still in life. Easier to drift than to battle the current.
Don’t have to be violently opposed to the message of salvation in Jesus to suffer loss: one only need to drift away from it.
Not intentional in most cases. Begins almost imperceptibly. Is gradual..
Vs. 2 – If (not any question. Since) the message spoken by angels (messengers) was binding
(literally “through” here and vs. 3 “through” the Lord.” ) Source = God, spoken through mediators.
If the law, transmitted through angels, who were creatures was legally binding , requiring adherence and spelling out punishment to transgressors - how much more important it is to listen when God himself comes and speaks?
Every commandment had its penalty.
Every “violation” and “disobedience” was punished.
In the Old Testament there was no reprieve for a person who deliberately defied or disregarded the law of God - the death penalty was fixed in advance.
E.g.: gathering sticks on Sabbath - inquired of God - “stone him.”
2 terms: (of many) - doesn’t use a general term for sin, but two with particular emphases:
“Violation” (transgression, infringement - “stepping over the line”)
Deviation from an original and true direction; neglect of the norm (the norm being the standards of law and righteousness in the Covenant.
“Disobedience” = “failure or refusal to hear or obey.” From root “akouo,” “to hear.” It implies an unwillingness to listen to the voice of God, not responding to the word of God. Knowing what you should do and not doing it.
When children little: “listen and obey.”
Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest (July 18): But woe be to me if when I see Him I say – I will not. He will never insist that I do, but I have begun to sign the death warrant of the Son of God in my soul. When I stand face to face with Jesus Christ and say – I will not, He will never insist; but I am backing away from the re-creating power of His Redemption.”
E.g.: OT warnings. Violation resulted in judgment. Dispersion.
Hosea 10:7 Samaria (capitol of Israel) will float away like a twig on the surface of the waters. (Note the same figure of speech).
If, as the history of Israel shows, neglect of the law produced dire disastrous consequences, neglect of the gospel must be catastrophic.
. “Yeah, yeah. Big deal.”
It is a bit deal. In fact, nothing as important!
The great salvation proclaimed in the gospel was not brought to earth by any angel, but by the Son of God himself! To treat it lightly is therefore more awful than breaking the commandments! Being careless and unconcerned is no laughing matter - it is serious business! Eternal issues are at stake!
Vs. 3 - How shall we escape if we ignore/neglect/treat lightly so great a salvation?
“How shall we escape?” Where can we flee? is rhetorical - there is no escape! If we neglect/drift away from anchor will be swept over the edge of the dam and dashed to pieces on the rocks below!
John 14:6 - Jesus is the only way “No man comes to the Father but by me.”
EG: Tony Compolo tells of a conversation he had on an airplane:
It was one o’clock in the morning when I boarded the red-eye flight going from California to Philadelphia. I was looking forward to getting some rest, but the guy next to me wanted to talk.
He asked, “what do you do?”
Now when I want to talk, I say I’m a sociologist, and they say, “that’s interesting.” But if I really want someone to shut up, I say I’m a Baptist evangelist. Generally that does it.
“I’m a Baptist evangelist,” I said.
“Do you know what I believe?” he asked. I could hardly wait. “I believe that going to heaven is like going to Philadelphia.”
“There are many ways to get to Philadelphia,” he continued. “Some go by airplane. Some go by train. Some go by bus. Some drive by automobile. It doesn’t make any difference how we go there. We all end up at the same place.”
“Profound,” I said and went to sleep.
As we started descending to Philadelphia, the place was fogged in. The wind was blowing, the rain was beating on the plane, and everyone looked nervous and tight. As we were circling in the fog, I turned to the theological expert on my right.” “I’m certainly glad the pilot doesn’t agree with your theology,” I said.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“The people in the control tower are giving instructions to the pilot: “Coming north by northwest, three degrees, you’re on beam, you’re on beam, don’t deviate from the beam.” I’m glad the pilot’s not saying, “there are many ways into the airport. There are many approaches we can take.” I’m glad he’s saying, “There’s only one way we can land this plane, and I’m going to stay with it.”
Escape from what: ultimately of course from hell. But right now from “the power of the devil” - a life of continual bondage, as slaves to sin, heirs of death.
Nb. -to whom addressed: we (the us of vs. 1). Written to Christians, those who have heard and accepted. This passage is not about rejecting salvation in Jesus, but neglecting it!
Not talking here about outright rejection, or resistance, or opposition. But neglect.
Neglect your yard, and the weeds will take over.
Neglect your business, and it will fail.
Neglect your wife and children, and they’ll find someone else to pay them the attention they need.
Just as surely as you can die as surely by taking poison, you can sign your own death warrant if you just neglect your medications.
A sign on highway placed by American Dental Society: “Ignore your teeth, and they will go away.”
Neglect your soul – and what hope do you have?
Spiritual neglect - how does it happen? What causes us to drift from the anchor of our souls?
What is this process by which we gradually, so gradually drift away from the truth of the gospel and the abundant, joyful, Spirit-filled and directed life?
• Starts with attitude towards God’s word. Boring. Then distasteful.
• Your prayer life is dead. Not connecting with God. Is he even there?
• You lose that sense of God’s presence as go through day’s routines.
• Your heart towards God is DEAD - communion becomes just a ritual, no longer emotionally moved as think of God’s love and Jesus’ sacrifice
• You become absorbed in selfish interests,
• Soon you have no desire to attend church. A waste of time. Willingness to be absent from the assemblies of the congregation of saints
• Before you know it, you are living as if “this life is all there is,” instead of in light of eternity.
That’s a typical process. What are some of the Causes? How can this happen to someone who has started out so well?
• Shallow roots Parable of the soils: Luke 8:4-8; 11-14
• Familiarity - The truth which at first was so exhilarating becomes “familiar, ho-hum.” Treat it as commonplace. Not learning anything new will turn your attention away from anything! What are you doing to discover more? (Reading in current Readers’s Digest) story of a young woman who is highly successful in scientific endeavors. Father remembers that when he would pick her up from pre-school she would say, “tell me something I don’t already know.” What’s your curiosity quotient?
• Prosperity (good thing yet can turn us away)
• Busyness. (Rich and poor alike). The multiplicity of our cares and duties can overwhelm us. “Something has to give!” we cry.
• Conformity to surrounding indifference
• Not listening to other Christians’ warnings
• Choosing to sin.
E.g.: the way Eskimos kill a wolf – dagger coated with blood frozen blade up in ice – wolf smells, licks, becomes intoxicated with the taste – literally bleeds to death.
[The word translated “drift” from root meaning to flow – reference of course to water, but also the word used for hemorrhage of blood!
NO ONE IS IMMUNE – pray for your pastors!
Robert Robinson was converted under the powerful preaching of George Whitefield. Became a pastor mightily used of God. Know him from his hymn “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” which we sang at beginning of our service.
But neglect of spiritual things led him astray.
In an attempt to find peace, began to travel. During one of his journeys he met a young woman who was evidently very spiritual minded.
What do you think of this hymn I’ve been reading? she asked Robinson, handing him her book. It was his own hymn. He tried to avoid her question, but it was hopeless, for the Lord was speaking to him. Finally he confessed who he was and how he had been living away from the Lord. The words . . . ‘prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love” had come true in his own life.
“But those streams of mercy are unceasing - they are still flowing,” the woman assured him. Through her encouragement Robinson was restored to fellowship with the Lord.
Oh, how easy it is to drift with the current - but how difficult to return against the stream!
Notice how the writer describes this spiritual life from which we can drift if we’re not careful. Such a great salvation
Is Great! None other like it!
Don’t take my word for it: Here is the witness of the TRINITY: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and the APOSTLES.
(1) Vs. 3 – first “announced” spoken by Jesus himself. Called the Lord (Gk. Kurios - word used in LXX to translate “Adonai,” the word used whenever “Jehovah” appeared. To readers, meant just that. OT given by angels, New Covenant by Jehovah personally.
(2) Vs. 3 – Confirmed by those who had heard him (Jesus). Readers were historically close to the events. Had the confirming testimony of those who had heard first hand (not cunningly devised fables).
e.g.: WWII accounts – my Father-in-law in occupying troops after Atomic Bombs the apostles and those happening in their midst. Each term has distinctive shades of meaning. dropped on Japan – waiting off shore – Nagasaki.
(3) Vs. 4 God the Father testified to its truth in the miracles of Jesus:
Signs not just show of power, but sign-ificant - points beyond itself to the reality that God is at work.
Wonder - reaction by those who witness it, because it is it supernatural excites awe and amazement.
Miracle lit. = work of power, emphasizes the dynamic character. Various - diverse. Many - John 20:30,31. Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Chris, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. 21:35 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
(4) Vs. 4 – Holy Spirit’s involvement: and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his word..
Cannot restrict this statement to apostolic days. Throughout the centuries, where there has been faith, have been miracles and manifestations.
Mark 16 “These signs will follow those who believe. . . “
Nb. Once again God’s sovereignty - he distributes them according to his own will. He chooses what gifts you will get. Sample lists: I Corinthians 12; Romans 12.
Nb: plurals: “us,” “we”. Doesn’t just happen to individuals, but to a group.
Church’s, whole denominations, are in danger of drifting if they do not remain anchored to the rock of Jesus Christ, if they don’t keep first things first, if they neglect the reading and preaching of the Word, if they neglect prayer, if they don’t look beyond their own walls to the needs of their community and the world.
But all groups, such as churches, are made up of individuals. As the individual goes, so goes the group.
So take a self-evaluation.
Look in the mirror of the Word.
What are you doing with the gifts God has given you?
What are you doing with the greatest gift God has given you? Are you cherishing and relishing and delighting in your salvation? Are you “paying close attention” to it, or are you neglecting it. Are you focused on the supremacy of Christ? Are you learning about him, asking questions about him, memorizing the Scriptures that speak of him, worshipping him, sharing your faith with others?
It’s a free gift, but God will hold you accountable for what you do with it. Examine your heart this morning.
If you’ve drifted, don’t despair! The fact you are here today is a good sign – there’s hope for you.
If you realize you’ve drifted, Joel 2:12 & 13.
“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. “
[prophet adds:] Rent your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.
Don’t neglect this great salvation - for there is no other way for you to experience the fullness of this relationship with Jesus that he intended for us of us to have.
