Drifting naturally happens without an anchor to something solid. If we are not securely set in the superiority of Jesus, we will drift with the currents of the world, the flesh, and the devil (Hebrews 2:1–4). God calls his people to cling to the anchor that will never move: Jesus Christ.
What Is Drifting?
The word “drifting” means to wander from a direct course, to move from a fixed point, or to live irresponsibly. It’s usually effortless and unconscious; you can be adrift without even knowing it. Drifting never goes against the tide but always along with it. As the drift continues, the downward glide accelerates and eventually leads to a wreck.
A story from the Gospel Guide illustrates this. Two young men were fishing above a low dam on a river when they unknowingly drifted too close to the edge. By the time they realized their situation, the current was too powerful to turn back. They went over the dam, were caught by the swirling waters below, and their bodies were later found days apart.
The Christian life is like a boat sailing on a river. The only difference is that downstream isn’t the believer’s destination, because that’s the place of waywardness, sin, and being lost. Christ has saved our souls, but we must be careful how we approach this journey so we don’t find ourselves aimlessly, effortlessly, and helplessly going downward.
The psalmist highlights the kind of trend that takes place in this drifting state when he says that, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers” (Psalm 1:1). Notice the downward trend: walk, stand, sit. Are you drifting?
Signs of Drifting
What should we look out for in our lives to redirect our sails? There are four things to be on the lookout for as we walk this path of life.
A Casual Approach to Christ
Before the writer of Hebrews warns against drifting, he raises a banner for Jesus, declaring his greatness above all angels as a Son (Hebrews 1:1-14). We must look at Jesus with much more awe than we do angels. Why?
Because he is:
- the voice of God in our midst today.
- the radiance of the glory of God.
- the One who upholds the universe by the word of his power and is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
- the One who has inherited the name above all names.
Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And, “But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:13-17). When we reduce him to a prophet, a good or wise man, or whatever else, we begin to drift from pure theology. We are only on track in our journey of faith to the extent that we are convinced of who Christ is. Have you seen him for who God presented him to be? Or are you flowing with the crowd?
A casual approach to Christ will lower our intensity of respect for him. Your answer to the question, “Who do you say that I am?” will dictate your approach to him.
A Casual Approach to Scripture
If I fail to see Jesus as the exalted one—mighty to uphold the universe and to save—there’s no way I’ll enforce the scriptures he inspired men to write (2 Peter 1:20-21). When you start following nicely coined statements from wise men, pastors, and other writings more than you do Scripture, you are drifting. What is the sole authority for the believer? The inspired text.
We know God’s revealed will in Scripture—his standards, his commandments, his love, his grace, his mercy, his wrath, and his return. We’re commended to the word of his grace, which can build us up and give us the inheritance among all those who are sanctified (Acts 20:32). A drifting person will rationalize and cast doubts on what Scripture says. They’re always asking, “Does the Bible mean it?” or “Did God mean it?” To dismiss God’s word is to ignore God altogether.
A Casual Approach to Fellowship
You’ve often heard people say things like, “I don’t go to church nowadays because it’s full of hypocrites,” “People are fake,” “It’s me and Jesus against the world,” “I’m more blessed online,” or “I will still go to heaven without going to church.” But the instruction to be in fellowship is a direct command in Scripture and is useful for us (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Fellowship acts as evidence of our relationship with God. If you are in fellowship with God, you will instinctively want to be in fellowship with his people. Fellowship is also a safeguard against the deceitfulness of sin, which hardens our hearts. Fellowship reminds us that we are not alone. We’re a big family, and we grow in the faith together. As Peter says, we are living stones, and together, we make the house (1 Peter 2:5). And as John Piper said, “Fellowship is a mutual bond that Christians have with Christ that puts us in a deep, eternal relationship with one another.”
A Casual Relationship with the World
When you run from your safe space, the church fellowship, you will start entertaining doctrines and philosophies of men. Sounding “woke” and wise, you become foolish at heart and find yourself in bed with the world. Those who are drifting try to sanctify worldly things (1 John 2:15-17). They don’t mind cussing, for instance, and will say things like, “Sorry to use this word… but it is what it is.” Just as the disciples’ speech sold them out as those who had been with Jesus, these people’s words sell them out as those who have been with the world.
If you find yourself running aimlessly after these lusts—lusts of the flesh, eyes, and pride of life—you are drifting. Your view of the world is as clear as the light of the gospel transformation shines through your eyes.
Remedies Against Drifting
What should we do when we find ourselves drifting? Is there a way out? Here are four things we need to do.
Keep Rowing
Pay close attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it (Hebrews 2:1). And what we have heard is that Jesus is better than all others. You must keep rowing toward the master as your only focus. Don’t be lazy or casual about this. It will be tiring and, at times, seem pointless. The feeling doesn’t disqualify the destination.
Paul told young Timothy, “Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13). Keep rowing against the tides, for you must reach the master despite the challenge. We are living in an era of false teachers, deceiving spirits, and doctrines of the devil. Stick to what is explicitly Christ-centered.
Keep Plowing Your Heart
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God (Hebrews 3:12-13). Your heart is prone to wander more than you know. Your susceptibility to hardening against what is godly is high. Take care. Don’t be cold at heart in your walk. Plow your heart in constant prayer, confession, accountability, and Scripture. Keep your heart plowed.
Keep Alert
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1). Watch out for those who come with new teachings. Don’t chase charisma and forget that the heart is not built by fading fires. Look at Scripture, question, and challenge everything that is said, like the Bereans (Acts 17:11).
Keep Close to the Anchor
As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving (Colossians 2:6-8). It is all stable and steady in Christ. He is the anchor that never moves. Walk in him, be rooted in him, and be built up and established in him. We have no other faithful guide for our souls.
Circumstances might throw us off, and great times may come our way. Still, Jesus is better. In his hands, under his rule, and at his watch, we won’t drift. He must hold us fast.