A lawyer who had recently purchased a Cape Cod home overlooking the harbor of Nantucket asked Ol Beauford to do some outdoor painting. He had the money and Beauford was known for good solid work. Beauford arrived in the morning as the lawyer was rushing out the door. He quickly explained what he wanted, complete strip of all the paint, the color scheme, running out of time, the lawyer then said, “Start on the porch around back and give me a call at the office when you finish.” The business man went off to work in Boston. Soon after his arrival, he received a call from Beuford who said, “All done boss.” The businessman elated said, “Boy you made quick work of that porch in the back.” The man replied, “Yes sir, only it wasn’t a Porsce, it was one of them BMW’s.”
The passage we read today tells us we need to pay CAREFUL attention to what we hear. Otherwise what we think we heard may have worse consequences than a bad paint job.
Hebrews 2:1 We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
This passage is a warning passage and speaks to a generation of people, specifically those of Hebrew lineage. Never forget Paul’s powerful line about the Gospel in ROMANS 1:16-- He was not ashamed of the Gospel because it is the power of God for salvation to the JEW first! Yet most Jews in Jesus’ day did not receive Him.
There was a great danger of believing that because you were a child of Abraham that God HAD to give you salvation. Further there is also a danger of believing that because you were raised as a child of Abraham that what you have been taught MUST be the same message God gave to Abraham and Moses. But, you have never taken the time to check it out for yourself!
Listen has anyone here ever gone through the drive through at McDonalds, Taco Bell? Of course. Now you know where I am going. Have you not been very specific about what you want and what you don’t want? Sure. Some times, everything works out great! But other times, haven’t you paid your money and as you drive off, OHHH they put pickles on this. There is no ketchup. I asked for ketchup. If only they had paid more attention.
Well the I am certain is a mixed audience with mixed results regarding the message they have heard. There would be those who truly received it and have been born-again, those who have understood it and know how to talk shop and play the part, but are not born-again, then there are those who have convinced themselves that they are born-again, no one else sees it that way, and then there are those who are still trying to figure it out. Well the writer here lets us know, it does not matter why you are lost whether because you outright reject the message or, if you are lost you are still in the same boat.
I. NEGLECTING IS JUST AS BAD AS REJECTING THE MESSAGE. (1-2)
A. DON’T DISOBEY:
B. DON’T DRIFT
Drifting is a nautical term it does not mean that you are intentionally avoiding the harbor, but rather by careless negligence you drift past the point of safety and consequently miss your channel. And it will not be so simple to get back. There is a great danger of confusing the SIMPLICITY OF THE GOSPEL with an EASE OF LIVING THE LIFE. Chris Nieves who just graduated from the Police Academy said, it was tough (Dennis Barton and I saw the video clips and it was tough. But on paper, I can assure you that the class outline looked simple so that anyone could follow it, but not everyone could live it. And it took diligence to earn that badge for Chris. Let me assure you it takes diligence to earn a witness for Christ.
1. Read His Word daily. Careful attention to: “Pros – Echo” can be translated several ways. It does mean to pay attention to as said above, but it can also mean to be addicted to as in becoming drunk. Do you realize that Christ refers to the Bible as true food and true drink! Do you really know the Word? We live in a post-modern day where people have been tricked into believing that their FEELINGS are FACTS and that RUMORS are REAL NEWS. But only the FAITH HANDED DOWN BY JESUS CAN REALLY SAVE.
There is an odd sense with some people that Bible study and Sunday school should be fun. Hey, great when they are. But, the reality, sometimes, it is just study. Listen, I understand it becomes tedious when you hit NUMBERS and it isn’t always fun, but there are some interesting facts there that you need to be aware of. And, it you say, I don’t need this
2. Be diligent with service opportunities and needs.
3. Let your faith be known (witness). Here is a good test: “Is there anything you do that is specifically Christian?” Does anything you do indicate to anyone else that you are a Christian.
One man in our church just recently sensed that he needed to step up and serve the Lord with our youth. For years this man has told his dad, “I’m a Christian, I go to church.” Dad has not responded much at all. But just last week he gave his weekend to those kids and went on that retreat. For the first time in Mike’s life, his dad showed interest in Mike’s faith. Mike that took something for you to give up your weekend. I know you are a busy man and work is very demanding of you. I guess, if you can do that, I have no excuse for saying I can’t go to church because I’m working!
See, he sacrificed something for his faith. Albeit one weekend. But, just going to church is not that impressive. Just saying you’re a Christian doesn’t take anything. People put more work into their MySpace pages than some of you put into what you call your faith!
4. And by your deeds let your faith be shown.
C. DISTINGUISHING A LIGHTHOUSE AHEAD IS NOT THE SAME AS
FOLLOWING THE LIGHT TO SAFE HARBOR.
II. AVOID THE DIRE CONSEQUENCES WARNED ABOUT. (3-4, Num. 15:32-36)
In Numbers a man broke Sabbath Law by picking up sticks and God Himself commanded that the man be stoned to death. Dire consequences! While I do not want to be a legalist, I also do not want to be so comfortable that I drift past God’s grace and come against his justice! Does anyone remember the young vandal Michael Fay in his felonious trip and destruction of cars and personal property in Singapore? He was shocked and our media were absolutely confused when the Singapore Government APPLIED THE CANE OF KNOWLEDGE TO HIS SEAT OF UNDERSTANDING! Had he only received more discipline at home to begin with...
The sense is a nautical, drifting past the point of safety. It is well within reach, but because of careless negligence, inattentiveness to directions and soundings, we miss the safe harbor, we fail to moor up to the proper place. And, the truth is that all of us tend to drift. Some are in the harbor and drifting away, some are outside the harbor, close enough to feel safe, but still are unsecured.
Let me close today with - The Three R’s of Response.
A. REPENT OF ANY KNOWN SIN.
So where do we go from here? What if I have already drifted? Composer Robert Robinson was saved under the mighty ministry of George Whitfield and he wrote the song “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” which says in part
”Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee.
Prone to wander—Lord, I feel it—
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart—O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above”
In the case of Robinson these words proved very prophetic, because he later drifted from his relationship with the Lord. Warren Wiersbe writes, “He had been greatly used as a pastor, but neglect of spiritual things led him astray. In an attempt to find peace, he began to travel. During one of his journeys he met a young woman who was evidently very spiritually minded.
“What do you think of this hymn I have been reading?’ she asked Robinson, handing him the book. It was his own hymn! He tried to avoid the question but it was hopeless, for the Lord was speaking to him. Finally, he broke down and confessed who he was and how he had been living away from the Lord.
‘But these streams of mercy are still flowing,’ the woman reassured him and through her encouragement, Robinson was restored to fellowship with the Lord.”
B. REMOVE THOSE THINGS THAT HINDER YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH!
C. RETURN TO YOUR FIRST LOVE. (REV 2:4)
Carefully examine what you believe and what the Bible says. Then be honest about where you are at.
