“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.”
– Hebrews 2:1
Main Thought: The message which the writer of Hebrews was speaking of to not “drift away from” was the message of the Gospel, the message of Christ’s sacrifice for sin which was prophesied in the Old Testament. The Hebrews knew what happened to their predecessors from centuries earlier when they drifted away from the warnings of God that came through Moses to the Israelite people, which they ignored and suffered great judgment from God. However, what does it mean to drift away from this message? To drift away from this message means to reject the revelation of God’s Son, through whom God the Father delivered the message of salvation, which is based upon the shed blood of Christ. Jesus said in John 5:26 “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.” To drift away means to reject the only way, the only payment for sin to God the Father, who is the Son, and the message that came directly from His only begotten Son. When the Jews of Jesus’ day cried out “crucify him, crucify him” to Pontius Pilate, they were rejecting the only way of salvation (Matt. 27:16-26; Mark 15:7-15; Luke 23:18-25; John 18:40). Later on in Hebrews 2:3, the writer asks the rhetorical question “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” The reality is that if we drift away from and neglect such a great salvation, it means sure and certain judgment from God for rejecting His Son, His grace, and His mercy. There is only one sure way of escaping the judgment of God, and that is to listen to God’s message of salvation which is through Jesus Christ. Have you drifted away from and neglected such a great salvation, or have you paid heed to God’s message of salvation in Christ alone? If you have not, then call upon him and do not turn away from this eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, the only Lord and Savior.
David Webber
David Webber is married to Mary with four children and four grandchildren, and serves as the Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Longview, TX. He obtained a BS in History from the University of Texas at Tyler, TX, and pursued studies at Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, TX. Throughout his ministry, he has been an invited preacher and educator in numerous churches and various Bible conferences. Surrendering to the gospel ministry’s calling in 1972 at the age of 16, he received preaching licensure from Little Flock Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, in 1974. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in History from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1978, he was ordained in December of 1980 by Faith Baptist Church. Following this, he contributed his services to Faith Baptist in Longview and subsequently engaged with Grace Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, where he instructed Sunday School and delivered sermons as needed. In February of 1994, Faith Baptist invited him to lead as their pastor, a role he has faithfully held to the present day. David writes a blog for the church website and is a writer for The Art of Worship.
More from David Webber
2 Corinthians 8:9
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” – 2 Corinthians 8:9
Job 14:1-2
“Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.” – Job 14:1-2
1 Corinthians 1:30-31
“And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1:30-31
Proverbs 28:13
“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” – Proverbs 28:13
Psalm 119:41-42
“Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise; then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me.” – Psalm 119:41-42
Psalm 86:9
“All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.” – Psalm 86:9 (ESV)
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” – 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (ESV)