HoHum:
Love going to the beach with my family- love sitting in the sun- love riding the waves- something that notice when in the water for a long time is that quite a distance from where Crystal is- after a while no longer see her- nothing serious but what if that went on for a long time, be miles away from beach house- if Crystal left and first time in the water might not know where the beach house is- called drift- water flows a certain direction and get caught in drift
WBTU:
Perhaps we have experienced a certain thing- we thought we knew where we were in relation to something (or someone), only to look up and have no idea where they went. What happened? It’s as inevitable as the tide: if we don’t focus on where we are, we will drift away from our priorities time and time again. Including our # 1 priority as Christians, the anchor securing all our values, beliefs, and convictions: our relationship with God.
“We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” Hebrews 2:1, NIV. No one thinks, “I’m tired of pursuing God. Sure, it’s really been worthwhile, but I think it’s time to just drift on downstream for a while and see where it takes me.” No, more likely it simply happens the same way it happens on the beach while we are in the water. We get so caught up in having fun that we are not paying attention. We drift down the way and if we don’t pay attention we are miles from where we need to be.
Our culture and our sinful nature will pull us away from God at every opportunity. Nothing big at the time but if we let ourselves go with the flow, then we begin drifting away from the solid rock of God. Oh, God is still there- he hasn’t moved, we have.
Even if we have only been a Christian for a few days, we realize it is easy to get sidetracked from God and just go with the flow.
Thesis: Let’s talk about how we can drift away and then talk about how we can stay anchored (not drift away) in our faith
For instances:
How we can drift away or how we can lose our faith in 5 easy steps
1. Blaming God
When we are unhappy with our circumstances, it’s normal to drift away from God- especially if we blame God for them. When life doesn’t go the way we want, we often feel more than justified in blaming God- He could have made things work out differently but he didn’t.
We are not promised a carefree life. Jesus said,“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”” John 16:33, NIV.
The book of James talks about troubles and trials. When we go through trials, the temptations often multiply. “When tempted, no-one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;” James 1:13, NIV. Blaming God for the problems
Sometimes we blame God for things that Christians do, using that as our excuse: Well, so and so, who’s a Christian, did this to me, so I’m never going to church again! Oh, that will get them- not! More like drive a wedge between us and God.
Instead, consider the antidote- “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5, 6, NIV.
2. Hanging around bad influences
“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”” 1 Corinthians 15:33, NIV.
Yes, we need to be in the world but not of the world (John 17:11-16). However, to continually surround ourselves with people who care nothing about God, is a recipe to drift away from God.
After all, hanging out with strong Christians can be so annoying. They’re constantly encouraging, praying and trying to bless us, holding us accountable to what we say we believe. Maybe we just like spending time with people who do bad things because they make us feel better about ourselves. “At least I’m not as bad as they are.” The problem with spending time with people of poor character is that they always rub off- and not the other way around. Drift
3. Giving in to temptation
Notice the whole context here- “When tempted, no-one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” James 1:13-15, NIV.
Many say or think, “It’s just the way I am. I can’t change it. Everyone is this way. It’s only human nature, and there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s totally normal!” Yes, it’s human nature, but we do not have to resign ourselves to going with the flow. “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13, NIV.
4. Loving the world
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15, NIV. The world makes it so easy to love everything here- and not only to love all the beautiful things but also to create our identity from them: “You are what you drive. You won’t be happy until you build your dream house. Clothes make the man. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. If you need to go into debt to finance all this stuff, then no biggie, right? I mean, you only live once, so you’d better enjoy every minute of it.”
Nothing wrong with self expression, unless it becomes a justification for idolatry- a different god that we create in our own image. Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:34, NIV. Good gauge is to see where our money is going- drifting away?
5. Faking it
“Fake it till you make it”- many people use this same advice in their faith, going through the motions of what they think the Christian life should be. ““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21, NIV. We can never fool God. Some have a huge, screaming fight with their spouse, yell at their kids, flip off another driver- all on the way to church! Once we get into the church parking lot, we get our game face on.
Did a funeral for a hospice patient who played on Porter Wagner Show and on the Grand Ole Opry- had some of his country music playing for the funeral- said something there that I want to repeat here- Many moons ago, I dated a girl who loved country music. Went to a few concerts- amazed me that they could sing about drinking, carousing, sinning and sorrow and then start singing “Amazing Grace”. Struck me as funny. Then I go to some church services and we are singing about joy, love, and peace and it just seems fake to me- country music and musicians are so honest and real- open about their struggles and temptations.
How we can stay anchored- not drift away
1. Read the Bible
The Word is active, sharp and alive (Hebrews 4:12). His truth will pierce our hearts (Acts 2:37), renew our minds (Romans 12:2), and put us on a firm foundation (2 Timothy 2:19), one that cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:26-27). We should think about his Word constantly, meditating on it, mulling it over and over in our minds (Joshua 1:7-8). We have more bible resources available to us than at any time in history.
2. Worship God
“I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” Psalms 104:33- Know a lady who is blind and came into her room and did not tell her I was there- just singing Christian songs, some of the words were incorrect- told her I was there and she explained that it helps her to pass the time- Brittni was a star in the adult entertainment industry- she went to a church service and she fell in love with the music- helped her to come to faith in Christ and today she is still singing
I am not a singer-“May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD.” Psalms 104:34, NIV. To think upon the Lord and his peace, pardon and perfections- “I will praise you as long as I live” Psalms 63:4, NIV. Craig Groeschel- If we believe in God and watch sun rise or a bird fly or think about breathing- how could we not just break down and say, “Wow, God!”
3. Get involved in church
Changes here at the church- so many people who are unconnected to a church- went to a church and came to faith there but haven’t been there for years- preacher left is a big one- Good to have people who are models to us but what if they let us down- “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.” Psalms 118:8, NIV. Now is the time to get involved to get things ready for the next preacher- be in prayer
4. Pray
Spend time with the Lord in prayer- God speaks to us through His Word, the Bible, and we speak to God in prayer- two way relationship- “pray continually;” 1 Thessalonians 5:17, NIV.
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,” Philippians 1:9, 10, NIV.
So what?
I’ve drifted so far away, what should I do? “You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” Revelation 2:4, 5
Acts 2:38
