The Pleasure & Plight of Drifting

Introduction:

Illustration: Because of the kinds of lives we live here in the West, there is something peaceful about being able to take time off, let go and let loose. To not have to worry about sickness, schedules, or life is a dream for many in our society. If you have every gotten into a lazy river [which has a current], you may know the pleasure of floating in a lazy river and just going where the current takes you.

While it is pleasurable to drift in a lazy river, if you do this kind of drifting in a boat in a lake, the result could be quite different. When you inattentively drift in a lake, there are a series of things that can go wrong. You may accidentally drift into another boat that is docked. You may drift into the embankment. Depending on what lake or river, you may drift over a small damn in the river.

While drifting can be pleasurable, it is very dangerous; and it is this kind of danger that the author has in mind in Hebrews 2:1-4.

Hebrews 2:1-4 is the first major exhortation and first major warning in the book of Hebrews. The primary concern is that the Jewish Christians would, due to suffering, drift away from Jesus Christ and turn back to the Old Covenant.

When we enter into the marriage covenant, we are excited; but when times get difficult, we begin to allow our minds to wander -- "What if I was still single? Look at what I have missed out on. It was easier back then...etc" [other examples: new job, new school class…etc]

Is this not a trick that our minds play upon us -- where we forget all of the actual benefits of our relationship, we dwell on the difficulty, and then convince ourselves we had it better back then...

The reality is that what we had was good but what we have presently is greater.

So, the warning of the writer can be summed up as “Don’t drift but rather endure with the Son”.

Big Idea:

Enduring with the Son is better than drifting from the Son.

Existential Question:

Am I actively drifting from the Son or enduring with the Son?

How do I know when I am drifting?

Graciously good before graciously bad

The Test of Attentiveness (v. 1)

Drifting people are inattentive while enduring people are increasingly attentive.

Illustration: the kind of earnest attention that the author is speaking about here is similar to the increased motivation you receive when you can see the end of the race or you can see your team waiting for you at the end. The recent run in KY with our relay team.

There is a kind of internal energy that increases as you get closer and closer to what you had once seen in the distance.

Clarity about drifting.

Today when we think about drifting we think about someone who is slowly moving away from something or someone, but the passage is a little more nuanced than this idea of drifting. It appears that the hearers are being tempted to drift away from the Son and return to Old Testament Covenant regulations. See Hebrews 8:6.

Hebrews 8:6 KJV 1900

6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Why is it that when we have turned over a new leaf and then begin to have trouble that we are so tempted to return back to the old leaf?

When we enter into the marriage covenant, we are excited; but when times get difficult, we begin to allow our minds to wander -- "What if I was still single? Look at what I have missed out on. It was easier back then...etc" [other examples: new job, new school class…etc]

A recent crime podcast told the story of a young lady who had been murdered and as they were documenting her life, she had these kinds of thoughts, inclinations, and patterns...

Is this not a trick that our minds play upon us -- where we forget all of the actual benefits of our relationship, we dwell on the difficulty, and then convince ourselves we had it better back then...

The reality is that, for many of us, what we had was good but what we have presently is greater…and we are moving towards what is ultimately great.

The community of Christians were in this kind of position. They had entered into the New Covenant, but suffering had tempted them to possibly revert back to the Old Covenant, which was incomplete and could not save.

In other words, they are drifting by virtue of distraction. They are so distracted that they need to be awakened before their distraction leads them to destruction.

Kent Hughes, Crossway: - * p. 48, "drifting is the besetting sin of our day" [what brings drifting? tide of years, familiarity with the truth, danger of busyness...]

When someone is asleep in their distractions, destruction will result.

Illustration: Van Accident...

Application:

Some may not be drifting in their own minds, but you are distracted. You cannot focus for a moment on the Son.

(some have learned to thrive on cynicism, drama…etc)

Know that this distraction from the Son is evidence of drift.

Clarity about discipline (v. 1)

The terms the writer uses indicate that there should be some intentionality (v. 1). Exercise thyself unto godliness.

Hope: for those of you who have set your minds upon Jesus Christ, and you are enduring some kind of trouble, don’t quit. II Timothy 3:10-12, I Timothy 4:7.

Consider Christ - Nostalgia?

The Son deserves your undivided attention. (v. 1)

* Kent Hughes - p. 50 "Careful attention to what we have heard is the divinely prescribed antidote to drifting"

What consumes your eye, consumes your mind. What consumes your mind consumes your heart.

Show me what is consuming your attention, and I will show you what is consuming your heart.

What consumes your heart, consumes your mind. What consumes your mind consumes your life.

Show me what is consuming your life, and I will show you want is consuming your heart.

Proverbs 4:20-25.

Guthrie - p. 17 "When we want to pay close attention to something, we clear away distractions; we set aside the time and space so that we can listen...What provisions have you made so that you can pay close attention to what God has said in his written Word and his living Word --Jesus?"

Am I actively drifting from the Son or enduring with the Son?

How do I know when I am drifting?

The Test of Neglect (v. 2-4)

Drifting ones neglect rather than reject the message while enduring ones receive the carefully measured truth.

To the Christian, our faith in the Son will be strengthened as we consider reasonable truth. (v. 2 - 4)

Illustration: Making a decision based upon your perception and then the consequences reveal that your perception was not reality. Trick of Tennis Ball in cup. Make your sure pick, only to realize that you have made the wrong decision.

Illustration: Tag Heuer watch in DC

Illustration: Tag Heaeur watch in DC

With many people, it is not that they have carefully measured the truth but that they have carefully measured their lusts, their desires — these desires have clouded their discernment — indeed their minds have been blinded by Satan.

The OT word was sure to accomplish justice (v. 2)

We have the evidence of something that has actually occurred historically. - Hebrews 3:7-12 (emph. God’s word).

The OT justice confirms how much greater the NT salvation is (v. 3)

What has happened has a way of helping us know what will happen.

Illustration of a trend line in Excel (8 points of reference)

The difference between neglect and reject (v. 2-3, just recompense, escape).

A rejector is not the same as a neglector:

Ex. #1 A friend and I were on base at Fort Benning, knocking on doors. We came to one door and as the man was descending the steps of his house, we told him who we were and what we were doing…he began to curse us and demand that we leave the property. That is rejection.

Ex. #2 A few years ago as we were in West Chester, we came upon a man who was in his driveway. We began to speak to him. He heard us and sympathized with as a Catholic until we got to “ye must be born again”. When asked, if he had been “born again”, he said, “nope, been born once.” He considered himself to be a Christian, gladly heard us, but neglected to carefully consider and believe the Son.

Neglecting can often be more dangerous than rejecting because for the neglecting person, the message of Jesus has become a kind of white noise that lulls people to sleep. The consequences are inescapable. See Hebrews 10:26-31.

Mohler - p. 23 "If God exacted retribution against those who broke the old covenant, how much more should we heed the message of the new covenant delivered to us by the last Adam, Jesus Christ?"

Transition: On the other hand, the following truths will strengthen the faith of those who consider them:

* p. 84, "Koester rightly remarks, 'Warnings are not designed to rob people of hope, but to steer them away from danger in order to preserve them so that they might persevere and inherit what has been promised."

Credible because of who preached this salvation (v. 3)

Credible because of first-hand account eyewitnesses (v. 3)

When Skeptics Ask: A Handbook on Christian Evidences Jesus Appeared In A Resurrected Body

The most outstanding proof that Jesus rose from the dead is that He was seen by more than 500 people on twelve different occasions. The

Credible because of supernatural activities (v. 4) (signs - humans recognizing something as significant; wonders - astonishing work; miracles - featuring the power of God beyond human ability; Holy Spirit gifts)

Call to Application:

The Salvation of the Son deserves your careful inspection. (v. 2-4)

Guthrie - p. 18 Some have never made the commitment to Jesus. We are interested in Jesus, but we have not been tied to him or anchored to him. Time and circumstances cause us to drift away from the opportunity to know Jesus in a saving way.

Some have come face-to-face with the gospel; they have felt an interest in it; they have, as it were, been at the entry into the harbor. They simply had to go a little further, and they would have arrived in the port. But alas, for some reason or another, they have not committed themselves, they have not accepted it, and they have allowed themselves to drift past it. - Lloyd-Jones, M. (2017). A Merciful and Faithful High Priest: Studies in the Book of Hebrews (p. 11). Crossway.

Closing Illustration: There is something we can learn from children & teens, though we see this truth imperfectly. We as adults often find ourselves looking back. We desire simpler days, less stress but not a child. A child looks ahead to future privilege, independence…they anticipate birthdays when they get older, driver’s license and more independence. In many cases, they look forward to getting out of school, getting a job, finding a spouse...

They can even become obsessed with each stage they look forward to. We can learn from this, but it is an imperfect truth. While adults fool themselves into nostalgically looking backwards, children and teens look forwards but not forward enough. All of us should take a glimpse ahead and upward and consider the Son.

Giving increasing attention to the Son will shape how we see and endure our lives right now.

It is better to endure with the Son than to drift from the Son.