Fight the Drift

​I grew up vacationing on the East Coast, with its gray sands and cloudy waters. I know some of you might be freaked out by that, but in the infamous words of Elsa— they “never bothered me anyway.” All I knew was that I was there for a good time with my cousins.
 
Our parents had two rules: stick together, and keep our eyes on the shoreline. Our family “base” was easy to spot with its plethora of bright chairs and umbrellas. If we found ourselves drifting from home, our job was to dig our feet in the sand and fight our way back to where we entered.
 
We had all the energy in the world in those days. We spent hours body surfing, floating, and fighting the current until we were completely spent and insatiably hungry.

After lunch, we’d beg our parents to take us to the community pool— that was where the real fun was to be had. The water was clear and current-less. We played games, performed jumping contests, and practiced our handstands. Oh, to be young again.
 
Here’s one thing I know to be true: life is more like an ocean and less like a pool— especially when it comes to our faith. This isn’t new news, though. It’s exactly what the author of Hebrews cautioned nearly 2,000 years ago.
 
If you spent this week scratching your head over this labyrinth of a letter, just know you’re not alone. Hebrews is a theologically complex letter, but when we zoom out to see the big picture, two things become clear:
 

• First, the recipients were Jews who had, at some point, become “enlightened” to the realities of who Jesus was and what His death had accomplished.

 

• Second, they had experienced their fair share of difficulties, and were a tired and discouraged people. The current of culture was strong, and people were drifting away from their newfound faith through grace alone and returning to dead works. The author writes to alarm them of this drift, and exhort them to hold fast.

 
As a mom and ministry leader, I can really relate to these tired and discouraged folks. The current of culture is strong. Every day, the world’s idea of “truth” becomes more muddled. I, too, have friends and family members drifting away.
 
It’s clear there is...
A drift that moves away from zeal, toward apathy.
A drift that moves away from truth, toward deception.
A drift that moves away from others, toward self.
 
With all this pull, how do we stand firm?
 
Unfortunately there’s no "pool” of faith where we can plop ourselves to play, but Hebrews gives us solid advice on how we can remain steadfast, even in the current.

Hebrews 10:22-25 gives us three ways:

• "Let us draw near to God" (Heb 10:22).
• "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess" (Heb 10:23).
• "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (Heb 10:24).

These disciplines are simple, but don’t be fooled— they are tried and true. Deepening our dependence on Jesus, growing in our knowledge of Him through His Word, and gathering to encourage one another are all imperative to stand firm.
 
We’re all susceptible to drifting. We must acknowledge that reality to fight it. Today, if you find yourself far from “base,” it’s not too late to make your way back. It may take a thousand arduous steps, but every one will be worth it.
 
Let us fix our eyes on the shoreline, where we entered in— Jesus, the Way.
Let us anchor our hope in the promises of God, found in His Word.
And let us look out for our brothers and sisters in Christ and point one another home.

Memory Verse: “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV

About the Author

Hi, I’m Katie Gibson! My incredible husband Craig and I have been married for 13 years and live in North Atlanta with our three children, ages 12, 11, and 7. I'm a writer, author, and speaker. My favorite things include black coffee, small group, date nights, and the Atlanta Braves. I love using the power of story and the unchanging truth of the Word of God to encourage women to grow in their faith. Connect with Katie at www.katiegibsonwrites.com

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