Hebrews 2:1-4
Scripture: Hebrews 2:1-4 (ESV)
“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.”
If there is an image that I think captures the essence of much of what has happened to the church over the last 60 years, it is that of a ship with a captain who is neglectful. I know nothing about seafaring, but I am pretty sure that one of the main jobs of the captain is make sure the ship doesn’t drift off course. When a ship drifts off course it will almost invariably end in disaster.
Disaster is the inevitable result when we neglect something vital.
In Hebrews, the writer warns us about spiritual drifting. If we don’t pay close attention to the gospel message, we risk drifting away from the truth and endangering our souls. Unfortunately, this is what the church has done over the last 60+ years. We have neglected the truth, and the ship has veered off course. We have become much more interested in conforming to the world, in being “nice people”, in getting our hour of power experience on a Sunday morning, than we have been about the “great salvation” we have received in Jesus. We have become complacent with the gift of salvation. We have left behind the core task of the church – sharing this salvation with the world. We have abandoned making disciples and we have settled, by and large, for an anaemic Christianity that has all the appearance of Godliness and none of its power.
In the previous chapter, the writer explained how Jesus is superior to angels. Angels were messengers of the Old Covenant, which came with strict consequences for disobedience. If ignoring their message had serious repercussions, how much more serious is it to ignore the message of salvation brought by Jesus, the Son of God?
How can we know whether we have bought in to this negligence? When we start thinking that we already know the gospel well enough or that it will always be there. When we take our salvation for granted. When we think things like “O God has to forgive me for my sin, because that’s who He is, so I can just keep on sinning”. When we think these sorts of things, we have missed the point of the gospel. We have spiritually drifted.
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that the message of salvation is not just important in our Christian walk – it is the core of it. Jesus lived, died, and rose again to earn our salvation.
Ignoring this salvation is to ignore the very core of our faith.
And that is blasphemous.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to pay close attention to Your Word and not drift away from Your truth. Keep my heart and mind focused on the salvation You have provided through Jesus Christ. Help me to recognize the importance of Your message every day and to live in a way that honours it. Amen.
Spiritual Challenge:
Take time today to reflect on the gospel message. Reread a favourite passage from the Gospels and ask God to renew your appreciation for the salvation you have in Christ. Make a conscious effort to share this message with someone who needs encouragement.