Many years ago, a respected radio pastor whose church we had visited resigned after an indiscretion with a woman he had counseled. When the news reached us, my husband and I mourned as if someone we loved had died. In a sense, someone had—the man we believed him to be.
More recently, the public confession of a prominent Christian communicator’s long-term adulterous affair reopened that familiar confusion. These revelations compel us to ask how a person can articulate Christian truth so vividly and live otherwise—or how they can persist in proclaiming it while secretly living apart from it.
The more compelling question is: how do we protect ourselves from drifting away from the Lord?
Scripture offers a sober warning:
“For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it” (Hebrews 2:1, NASB).
Having grown up on the coast, I understand drifting firsthand. More than once, I looked up from the water to realize my inner tube had floated far from my towel and shoes. I hadn’t chosen to leave them behind. I was simply enjoying the moment—unaware of how quickly the current was carrying me away.
That’s how spiritual drifting happens. We usually don’t wake up one morning determined to abandon our faith. Instead, we drift because we stop paying close attention to our relationship with Jesus. We loosen our grip on the anchor of His love.
A Sad Statistic on Spiritual Drifting
While studying those who finished well in Hebrews 11, I learned that today few leaders do. In Leadership in the Nineties, Dr. J. Robert Clinton suggests that as many as 70 percent do not. Over time, many stop listening, stop growing, and slowly surrender their convictions.
Like children who glow under a parent’s praise, I believe every true believer longs to hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” I know I do. Yet if we fail to “pay much closer attention to what we have heard,” we can drift from the Lord as quietly—and as quickly—as an inner tube slipping into open water.
Moses repeatedly warned Israel to listen so that they and their children would prosper forever. Notice how he connects listening to God with loving God:
“Listen closely, Israel, and be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you, …
“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.” (Deut. 6:3-7 NLT).
C. S. Lewis once told a young girl, “If you continue to love Jesus, nothing much can go wrong with you, and I hope you always do so.”[1]
Mindless drifting can carry us into shark-infested waters or dash us against unseen rocks. But a vibrant relationship with God through His Word keeps our affections anchored in Him.
If you want encouragement to persevere, Hebrews 11 introduces us to men and women who finished well with God-pleasing faith. Hebrews 13:7 says to “consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” Little Faith, Big God walks through the lives of these believers and shows how ordinary faith, anchored in an extraordinary God, finishes well. May their stories strengthen your faith for the journey ahead.
No one wakes up planning to drift from God. Drift happens when we stop paying attention. #SpiritualGrowth #FinishWell Share on XOpportunity
If you’re in the Raleigh area I’d love to see you on the evening of January 28th. I’ll be speaking on “God’s Recipe for Peace” from Philippians 4 at Holy Trinity Anglican Church (100 East Peace Street, Raleigh, NC 27604). Scroll to Women’s Dinner and Fellowship at this link to learn more and register.
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Blessings,
[1] Lyle W. Dorsett and Majorie Lamp Mead, C. S. Lewis—Letter to Children (Mew Your: Macmillan, 1985), p. 111
Sometimes I link to these great sites:
#MondayLinkUp #InstaEncouragements, #Let’sHaveCoffee, #Grace&Truth, #SweetTea&Friends
A very sobering and important message for us all, Debbie. Thank you.
It is sobering, Ann, because we know how vulnerable we are. Thank you!
Exactly!
Spiritual drift is nefarious and happens when we’re not looking, not paying attention. God help us all!
Yes, we certainly need His help to keep from drifting.
Amen! It is so true, we can drift easily when we are not paying attention. I want to determine each day to seek His face.
We need Him always, whether we feel like it or not.
May we all “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [us] heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14)! It breaks my heart every time I hear of a Christian who has forsaken God’s ways. Indeed, may we be diligent to protect ourselves from drifting away!
Mine too, Nancy. Yes, may we help each other stay anchored in Christ.
Great opportunity Debbie to speak at Trinity. Congrats!
I wish I could attend. Know I would be blessed!
Thanks, Janet. We’ll see if the weather allows it!
None of us is immune to drifting. This season is a call to wake up, look up and fix our gaze on the only one who will keep us from falling. Thank You, Jesus.
Amen, Linda!
Excellent words here Debbie. Spiritual drifting is real, and subtle, which is why it’s so easy to find ourselves farther away than we thought. We had a similar experience as you describe at the beginning of your post with our long-time pastor resigning over an adulterous affair too. It served to remind us no one is immune from spiritual drifting, and we must be vigilant to keep our faith walk in tact.
Donna, those experiences sure do shake and sound the alarm. We need to be vigilant.
It’s my desire to finish well. But oh, how much I need to keep my eyes on HIm and my heart in His Word to do so.
Me too. Those tricky currents can swoop us away so quickly.
Spiritual drifting can happen in any of our lives. It occurs so subtly, little by little. I have never forgotten hearing Chuck Swindoll say years ago: “Sin will take you further than you ever thought you’d stray, keep you longer than you ever thought you’d stay, and cost you more than you ever thought you’d pay.” I have never forgotten those words. We must intentionally and consistently stay in God’s Word, allowing Him to keep us anchored.
Joanne, thanks for sharing that quote. I think he shared that in talking about David after his sin against Bathsheba and Uriah. What a sober warning.
Your message is very spot on Debbie. It’s so easy to think it will never happen to us. I pray I never drift away from Christ
Me too, Yvonne. Me too.
Drifting in the water is a good example of how we can drift in our walk with the Lord without being consciously aware of it, Debbie. I often think of it in regard to a train, and at any point, any of us can get off the train. At any point, we can say the straight-and-narrow way is too hard. I appreciate that the Lord always provides a way of escape for every temptation we encounter. By God’s grace, may we take the way of escape and walk in the fear of the Lord. I’m glad you wrote a book that encourages us to be faithful to the Faithful One.
Lisa, I’m thankful for that promise too. And the sooner we take the way of escape the better life goes.
Spiritual drifting indeed does happen. I really want to hear Jesus say ‘well done my good & faithful servant’. This is a profound message today Debbie.
Thank you so much for sharing with Sweet Tea & Friend’s this month dear friend. I’m so happy you’re here.
Me too, Paula. Thanks so much for hosting and sharing your thoughts here.
Really important topic handled extremely well. Thank you, Debbie.
Thank you, Debb.
Happy February Debbie, just popping back over to let you know I’ll be featuring your post at Sweet Tea & Friend’s Debruary Link Up.
{{Hugs}}
Thank you, Paula! And thanks for your ministry.