The Danger of Drifting
Have you ever sat in a tube on a lake or in the ocean, especially out past the breaking waves? It can be so peaceful and relaxing to lean back, listen to the sounds of the water, and watch the birds or the clouds drift by. But if we relax too much and don't pay attention to where we are, it doesn't take long before we've drifted a long way from where we want to be. Drifting is not dramatic. The movement is often so gradual and imperceptible that we completely miss how far we've moved.
That is precisely the picture the writer of Hebrews paints when he writes, "Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it" (Hebrews 2:1).
Drifting from Jesus is dangerous. In fact, because of its subtlety, it may be even more dangerous than many obvious threats to our faith. Drifting doesn't require effort. It doesn't require rebellion. All it requires of us is inattention.
Notice what the author doesn't say. He doesn't begin by warning primarily about persecution, false teachers, or open rebellion. Those are certainly real dangers, but the first warning in Hebrews is more subtle. It is the danger of neglect; the danger of failing to pay careful attention to Jesus Christ and the gospel message that makes Him known to us.
A World Full of Currents
One of the greatest dangers Christians face today is that we live in a world filled with distractions. Every notification demands our attention. Endless news cycles stir our fears. Entertainment fills every quiet moment. Social media constantly tells us where to look, what to value, and who to become. Careers, hobbies, politics, sports, possessions, and even good gifts from God can slowly consume our gaze. The distractions themselves aren’t the real danger; it’s the lack of intentional effort to pay closer attention to Jesus.
Most Christians don't wake up one morning and decide to abandon Christ. It certainly happens. But in my experience, that’s not usually how it happens. It begins by simply not paying as close attention to Jesus today as they did yesterday. Slowly, even imperceptibly, the distractions begin to fill their lives, take up their time, and displace Jesus.
The means of grace God has given us that keep our gaze on Christ become familiar rather than wonderful. Bibles remain closed and begin to get dusty. Prayer becomes rushed or neglected altogether. Time with God's people is optional. Little by little, almost unnoticed, these currents carry us away. Before we know it, we can find ourselves a long way from where we started with Jesus.
Avoid the Drift
The whole point of Hebrews is to present Jesus as the fulfillment of all that God had prepared and promised through the Old Testament. As the writer shows us Jesus is greater than everyone and everything that came before (comparing Him to angels, patriarchs, prophets and more) the application is always the same…
Then after an entire chapter celebrating the faith of God's people throughout history, the author doesn't tell us to imitate them. Instead, he points us beyond them, and calls us to "Look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith" (12:2).
The Christian life is sustained by fixing our attention on Christ. To avoid the drifting, we must never take our gaze off Jesus. He must remain our central focus, our main priority, our constant hope. He is the One who sets us on our course, steadies us along the way, and safely brings us to our destination. Our responsibility is simple, just keep our attention fixed on Him.
Recovering from the Drift
Maybe you’re reading this and realizing you’ve drifted. You aren’t as close to Jesus as you used to be. Maybe you’ve even lost some of your awe. Maybe you looked up one day and realized how far away from Jesus you had actually gotten.
Is there any recovery? Or, is there any way back?
Think about when you’ve drifted on the lake or the ocean. It takes so much effort to fight the currents that drew us away. Is it this hard to recover when we’ve found we’ve drifted from Jesus? Can it be possible that we could ever recover and get back to Him?
The good news is that the answer is a resounding, “Yes, it is possible!” and it doesn’t take any more effort than avoiding the drift!
In fact, recovering from a drift is no different than avoiding the drift. The author of Hebrews is writing to people who have already begun to drift. He doesn’t provide them two different solutions. He’s warning them and calling them back to the very things that help us avoid drifting to start.
Turn your gaze back to Jesus. Keep your eyes on Him. Pay attention to Him. Prioritize time in His Word, in prayer, and with His people. What you’ll find is that He is never as far from you as it feels like you are from Him.
What Has Your Attention?
Maybe, you’re reading this but you’re unaware that you have drifted from Jesus at all. You’re still living in that seemingly happy and peaceful moment before looking up from your tube and realizing how far from shore you are. It’s always good to do a little heart check and ask ourselves, “What has my attention?”
If you’re like everyone else, there are going to be all kinds of things, large and small, that can be listed after each of these questions. They are only a concern if those things are displacing Jesus. Are any of the things you’ve listed capturing and holding your attention more than Him?
If you find yourself drifting, remember the answer isn’t greater discipline, though discipline does have its place. The answer is a renewed attention given to Jesus.
Keep Looking
“We must pay much closer attention to what we’ve heard lest we drift.” Not because the effort of paying attention earns anything, but because what we pay most attention to captures and shapes our hearts.
So keep “looking to Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith”.
And don’t look away.
That is precisely the picture the writer of Hebrews paints when he writes, "Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it" (Hebrews 2:1).
Drifting from Jesus is dangerous. In fact, because of its subtlety, it may be even more dangerous than many obvious threats to our faith. Drifting doesn't require effort. It doesn't require rebellion. All it requires of us is inattention.
Notice what the author doesn't say. He doesn't begin by warning primarily about persecution, false teachers, or open rebellion. Those are certainly real dangers, but the first warning in Hebrews is more subtle. It is the danger of neglect; the danger of failing to pay careful attention to Jesus Christ and the gospel message that makes Him known to us.
A World Full of Currents
One of the greatest dangers Christians face today is that we live in a world filled with distractions. Every notification demands our attention. Endless news cycles stir our fears. Entertainment fills every quiet moment. Social media constantly tells us where to look, what to value, and who to become. Careers, hobbies, politics, sports, possessions, and even good gifts from God can slowly consume our gaze. The distractions themselves aren’t the real danger; it’s the lack of intentional effort to pay closer attention to Jesus.
Most Christians don't wake up one morning and decide to abandon Christ. It certainly happens. But in my experience, that’s not usually how it happens. It begins by simply not paying as close attention to Jesus today as they did yesterday. Slowly, even imperceptibly, the distractions begin to fill their lives, take up their time, and displace Jesus.
The means of grace God has given us that keep our gaze on Christ become familiar rather than wonderful. Bibles remain closed and begin to get dusty. Prayer becomes rushed or neglected altogether. Time with God's people is optional. Little by little, almost unnoticed, these currents carry us away. Before we know it, we can find ourselves a long way from where we started with Jesus.
Avoid the Drift
The whole point of Hebrews is to present Jesus as the fulfillment of all that God had prepared and promised through the Old Testament. As the writer shows us Jesus is greater than everyone and everything that came before (comparing Him to angels, patriarchs, prophets and more) the application is always the same…
- "Consider Jesus" (3:1).
- "Hold fast our confession" (4:14).
- "Draw near" (4:16).
- “Hold fast…without wavering” (10:23)
Then after an entire chapter celebrating the faith of God's people throughout history, the author doesn't tell us to imitate them. Instead, he points us beyond them, and calls us to "Look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith" (12:2).
The Christian life is sustained by fixing our attention on Christ. To avoid the drifting, we must never take our gaze off Jesus. He must remain our central focus, our main priority, our constant hope. He is the One who sets us on our course, steadies us along the way, and safely brings us to our destination. Our responsibility is simple, just keep our attention fixed on Him.
Recovering from the Drift
Maybe you’re reading this and realizing you’ve drifted. You aren’t as close to Jesus as you used to be. Maybe you’ve even lost some of your awe. Maybe you looked up one day and realized how far away from Jesus you had actually gotten.
Is there any recovery? Or, is there any way back?
Think about when you’ve drifted on the lake or the ocean. It takes so much effort to fight the currents that drew us away. Is it this hard to recover when we’ve found we’ve drifted from Jesus? Can it be possible that we could ever recover and get back to Him?
The good news is that the answer is a resounding, “Yes, it is possible!” and it doesn’t take any more effort than avoiding the drift!
In fact, recovering from a drift is no different than avoiding the drift. The author of Hebrews is writing to people who have already begun to drift. He doesn’t provide them two different solutions. He’s warning them and calling them back to the very things that help us avoid drifting to start.
Turn your gaze back to Jesus. Keep your eyes on Him. Pay attention to Him. Prioritize time in His Word, in prayer, and with His people. What you’ll find is that He is never as far from you as it feels like you are from Him.
What Has Your Attention?
Maybe, you’re reading this but you’re unaware that you have drifted from Jesus at all. You’re still living in that seemingly happy and peaceful moment before looking up from your tube and realizing how far from shore you are. It’s always good to do a little heart check and ask ourselves, “What has my attention?”
- What occupies my thoughts when my mind is free?
- What captures my imagination?
- What shapes my desires?
- What consumes my conversations?
- What receives my time and resources?
- How would those who know me well answer these questions?
If you’re like everyone else, there are going to be all kinds of things, large and small, that can be listed after each of these questions. They are only a concern if those things are displacing Jesus. Are any of the things you’ve listed capturing and holding your attention more than Him?
If you find yourself drifting, remember the answer isn’t greater discipline, though discipline does have its place. The answer is a renewed attention given to Jesus.
Keep Looking
“We must pay much closer attention to what we’ve heard lest we drift.” Not because the effort of paying attention earns anything, but because what we pay most attention to captures and shapes our hearts.
So keep “looking to Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith”.
- Look again to His supremacy.
- Look again to His priesthood.
- Look again to His sacrifice.
- Look again to His faithfulness.
- Look again to His promises.
- Look again to His cross.
- Look again to His throne.
- Look again to His coming kingdom.
And don’t look away.
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