DON'T DRIFT AWAY FROM GOD

ACTS 27:7-24

He knew better!

Chuck Yeager, the famed test pilot, was flying an F-86 Sabre over a lake in the Sierras when he decided to buzz a friend's house near the edge of the lake. During a slow roll, he suddenly felt his aileron lock. Says Yeager, "It was a hairy moment, flying about 150 feet off the ground and upside down."

A lesser pilot might have panicked with fatal results, but Yeager let off on the G's, pushed up the nose, and sure enough, the aileron unlocked. Climbing to 15,000 feet, where it was safer, Yeager tried the maneuver again. Every time that he rolled, the problem reoccurred.

Yeager knew three or four pilots had died under similar circumstances, but to date, investigators were puzzled as to the source of the Sabre's fatal flaw. Yeager went to his superior with a report, and the inspectors went to work. They found that a bolt on the aileron cylinder was installed upside down.

Eventually, the culprit was found in a North American plant. He was an older man on the assembly line who ignored instructions about how to insert that bolt, because, by golly, he knew that bolts were supposed to be placed head up, not head down. In a sad commentary, Yeager says that nobody ever told the man how many pilots he had killed."

The Accountability Connection (Victor Books, 1992), story from Chuck Yeager, Yeager, (Bantam, 1985)

Acts 27:7–24 NASB95

7 When we had sailed slowly for a good many days, and with difficulty had arrived off Cnidus, since the wind did not permit us to go farther, we sailed under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone; 8 and with difficulty sailing past it we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea. 9 When considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, since even the fast was already over, Paul began to admonish them, 10 and said to them, “Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” 11 But the centurion was more persuaded by the pilot and the captain of the ship than by what was being said by Paul. 12 Because the harbor was not suitable for wintering, the majority reached a decision to put out to sea from there, if somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there. 13 When a moderate south wind came up, supposing that they had attained their purpose, they weighed anchor and began sailing along Crete, close inshore. 14 But before very long there rushed down from the land a violent wind, called Euraquilo; 15 and when the ship was caught in it and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and let ourselves be driven along. 16 Running under the shelter of a small island called Clauda, we were scarcely able to get the ship’s boat under control. 17 After they had hoisted it up, they used supporting cables in undergirding the ship; and fearing that they might run aground on the shallows of Syrtis, they let down the sea anchor and in this way let themselves be driven along. 18 The next day as we were being violently storm-tossed, they began to jettison the cargo; 19 and on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned. 21 When they had gone a long time without food, then Paul stood up in their midst and said, “Men, you ought to have followed my advice and not to have set sail from Crete and incurred this damage and loss. 22 “Yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 “For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.’

OBEDIENCE TO GOD OFFERS SAFE HARBOR FROM LIFE’S DIFFICULTIES. (V. 7-10)

Joshua 1:7 NASB95

7 “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.

THE DEVIL OFFERS DANGEROUS DETOURS. (v. 11-17)

You make life difficult on yourself. Being impulsive, cutting corners. Thinking God will take away consequences. Don’t be unevenly yoked. Don’t go into business with someone you know doesn’t have a good reputation.

Even when something is not particularly sinful don’t walk to the left or the right if God has given you a word.

You spend little, if any time reading God’s word and praying – “I’m just too busy right now to read and pray.”

The gospel doesn’t affect you like it used to – “I’ve heard it a thousand times before…it just seems a little old.”

You don’t spend much time fellowshipping with other Christians – “I’ve worked hard, I’m tired, the last thing I want to do is go and be with other people.”

The sins that used to bother you don’t really bother you anymore – “This show isn’t that bad. It doesn’t really tempt me too much.”

You find yourself quieting your conscience more frequently – “I know it was wrong, and I’ll pray about it tonight.”

You keep promising yourself that you will stop – “Okay, this is the last time I look at porn.”

You find yourself making excuses for things – “I’m only chatting on Facebook with the guy, it’s not like we’re sleeping together.”

DISOBEDIENCE WILL BE COSTLY. (V. 18)

Galatians 6:7 NASB95

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A PAYDAY. WHAT A MAN REAPS, HE SOWS. Greed will make you a beggar. Carelessness will cripple your walk with God and others. it takes a lifetime to build a reputation, just a moment to ruin it.

GOD GRACIOUSLY OFFERS DELIVERANCE EVEN AFTER WE STRAY. (V. 21-24)

Ezekiel 18:27–28 NASB95

27 “Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life. 28 “Because he considered and turned away from all his transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

Here Are 4 Ways to Be Reeled back In

1. Reflect

Spend some time in quiet reflection. Ask God to show you where and how the drift began. Drifts are prompted by something. A change in job, a change in family, even seasonal changes can initiate the drift. Knowing yourself and knowing your triggers will prove valuable in helping you quickly identify when a drift may be close at hand.

2. Repent

Our God is loving, gracious and merciful. He says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”(1 John 1:9). There are times in the drift when we give license to our will and forsake pursuing God’s will. But He gives us an opportunity to lay it at the altar when we repent. And He doesn’t condemn us either. Jesus extends His arms and invites us to come and cast our cares on Him. So, whatever He revealed to you in your time of quiet reflection, lay it at His feet and repent.

3. Release

As you lay your issues on the altar, you release yourself of their weight. But human nature has the propensity to lay them down only to return and pick them up again. Here’s where we supercharge our release by fasting. Fasting enables us to silence our fleshly desires and to focus on Jesus. Fasting interrupts the slow drift and sweeps us up in the current of the Holy Spirit where our spirits are free to commune with God without the distractions of the drift.

4. Return to the activities God commands.

Worship, studying His Word, Fellowship with believers, doing good in His Name.

At one time or another we may all experience the drift but be assured that Christ is our anchor. While we are drifting, He is yet drawing our hearts back to Him. He draws near to those who draw near to Him (James 4:8).

Always tethered. No matter where we go, He is with us.

If we run, stray or even drift, He promises that He will be with us even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). We can never drift beyond His reach.