Spiritual Drift: The danger of inattention to the truth …

One of my all-time favorite beaches is located in Point Reyes National Seashore in the San Francisco bay area, a place I lived for many years.

There was only one problem with this wonderful beach — the weather.

Even in the throes of summer, it wasn’t uncommon for the coastline to be foggy for half the day and too cool to enjoy a real sun-soaked beach outing.

On such days, when I longed for some time in the sun, I would opt to go to Lake Berryessa instead, which had the opposite issue of my favorite beach. At the lake, it could be quite hot!

I remember one day at the lake, with temps soaring near triple digits, I stretched out on a one-person inflatable raft and kept cool bobbing atop the water’s surface. With the warmth of the sun and the gentle comfort of floating on the water, I dozed off in the quiet setting just slightly off shore of the lake.

That wasn’t where I awoke.

When I was finally stirred awake, I found myself floating far from shore! As the comfort of the raft had induced me into a pleasant nap, during my sleep I had drifted from the side of the lake where I had started. It took some energetic paddling to return to my spot on land, and I was thankful I had awaken before drifting further away.

My inattention to my position caused me to drift from the safety of the shore and more shallow waters.

Inattention in various matters can result in drift, something the writer of Hebrews gives us a serious warning about. The first chapter of that book begins with this, “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son,” (Hebrews 1:1-2) and then continues with the theme of the superiority of Jesus. Then the writer of Hebrews turns his pen to exhortation:

“So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.” – Hebrews 2:1.

Lynda Sysko tells a story that might help us have greater insight into this important sentence of scripture …

Have you ever watched a canoe race during the Summer Olympics? Before the paddlers get into the canoe, they must know who has control of the team on the water. When a coxswain is on board, he is that leader and sits at the stern facing the paddlers. The paddlers have their backs to the direction of the race; they face the bow.

The coxswain sees what the paddlers do not; they must trust him. Everyone must keep their eyes on the leader because he will guide them throughout the race. He keeps the canoe moving straight, giving signals when they drift out of their lane, until they pass the finish line.

The coxswain’s job is to make the tactical decisions. The paddler’s job is to be attentive to the directions of the coxswain.

In like manner, our job is to be attentive to the truth we have received in the Word of God. The writer of Hebrews noted this in chapter 12: “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith …” Hebrews 12:2a.

The average Christian today pays little attention to the truth. Multiple studies have shown over the years that most Christians never open their Bibles outside of a church service. With so little attention to the Word of God, you will experience “spiritual drift,” the very thing the writer of Hebrews warns against.

How is your attention to the truth of God’s Word? Are you being careful to pay close attention to the truth you have heard, or are you experiencing spiritual drift?

Scotty