My wife and I enjoy visiting the J Street Marina in Chula Vista. It's a great place to walk along San Diego Bay, gaze at the ocean water, and spot local wildlife. One thing that will catch your eye is all the boats docked in the marina. Hundreds of boats, some bigger than others, are bobbing in the bay waters. I've seen some lovely vessels there."For this reason, we must pay attention all the more to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away." Hebrews 2:1
The owners of these boats ensure that their vessels are securely fastened to the dock. They use specially designed ropes attached to metal fixtures in the marina that can withstand the forces of water movement. Boat owners use multiple lines to stabilize the boat and prevent it from drifting forward, backward, or sideways.
Why do these boat owners pay special attention to how their crafts fasten to the marina? Without careful attention, your boat will drift away into the ocean waters. If you care about your boat, you will pay close attention to how it is attached!
Similarly, Christians must carefully consider how their daily lives connect with Christ. If a boat owner takes such care to ensure the security of their boat, how much more should we be aware of our lives in Jesus? Hebrews 2:1 gives us guidance on how to guard against spiritual drifting.
Hebrews 2:1 states that Christians should "pay attention" to what they have heard about Jesus. The term "pay attention" is an action statement. It's a verb that means being concerned about or applying oneself to something. [1]
Christians must apply themselves to the message about Christ. The message leading up to Hebrews 2 is all about Jesus's greatness. God has spoken to us through Jesus (Heb. 1:2). Jesus is God's exact expression of his nature to humanity and the radiance of his glory (Heb. 1:3). Jesus is above all of creation and rules supreme (Heb. 1:13). Therefore, considering who Jesus is, apply his message to your life.
The gospel is not a one-time message that we nod our heads to and walk away from. The message about Jesus is a vital daily connection. We must carefully ensure that our thoughts and life patterns firmly connect to Christ, our firm foundation.
A line in the famous hymn "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" says, "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; prone to leave the God I love." The hymn writer expressed a reality within himself that Hebrews 2:1 describes as our tendency to "drift away."
The inclination within humanity to drift away from God is throughout the Scriptures. After seeing God miraculously deliver them from Egypt, the people of Israel still fell into idolatry by worshipping a golden calf (Ex. 32). Despite God miraculously gifting Solomon with wisdom and a covenant relationship, King Solomon still allowed his heart to turn to other gods (1 Kings 11:1–13). Even though Peter knew Jesus as the Messiah and saw his multiple miracles, Peter still allowed his fear to cause him to deny Jesus (Matt. 26:69–75).
As Christians, how can we guard ourselves against drifting away? We need daily intentionality in our walk with Jesus. Like the boat owners at the marina, we need to check our connection to Christ carefully.
- How does God's Word affect your day? Do you meditate on Christ, keeping his Word in your heart?
- How is prayer embedded in your daily life? Do you pray with a thankful heart, seeking his will in your thoughts and actions?
- How is your connection with the body of Christ? Do you fellowship with believers and love those whom he loves?
Drifting is subtle and can happen over time, but it can have a damaging effect. Like the church in Ephesus, Christians can "abandon the love they had at first" (Rev. 2:4). The answer for them and us is repentance, careful attention to the gospel, and applying it to our daily lives.
Christian, observe your anchor points daily and make the necessary adjustments. Meditate on the good news of Jesus. Remember how he changed your life, and walk today with confident faith and good works as a child of God.
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[1] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 879–880.