Heb 2:1    We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

        

Although this is an exhortation, behind it is a worrying truth: we can drift from what we know to be the truth. How many of us, I wonder, start off spectacularly in the Christian experience but slowly taper off in our experience and settle for mundane ritual with no regular experience of the Lord? Or how many of us started off with brilliant clarity of understanding of the Gospel truths, but as the years have gone by we think less of them and in fact almost doubt them? This is drifting away.

 

We only know we've drifted away if we can look back on our past experience and know that the present is not as good. We may rationalise it but that is just excusing ourselves and explaining why we're lesser people today. The church at Ephesus was warned by Jesus: “You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” (Rev 2:4,5)

 

What is the answer? To pay more careful attention. It is to come back to God's word and seek after the truth afresh, asking the Holy Spirit to draw you back, to come afresh to you, to bring His word alive to you, to make every day an adventure with Him. The warning from the writer to the Hebrews is a valid one for we have a tendency to forget things and when we forget we drift and before we know it we can be feeding pigs (Lk 15:15). Check it out; make sure you haven't drifted from what you once knew, that you haven't lost your first love.

So, to recap, you and I have the worrying capability of drifting in our faith, losing focus, losing clarity and sharpness, and if we do it will be seen in uncertainty and doubt and lack of conviction. The call is to be alert and pay attention to our state of spiritual health. How do you regain health? Feed well and exercise well. Feed on His word daily, not just intellect being touched but our spirit being touched and fed by His word. Exercise by expressing love and goodness, praying, worshipping and witnessing where the opportunity arises. Be spiritually healthy and strong!