The Drifting Kayak

My brother is fortunate to live on a beautiful Ontario lake, and also to be surrounded with good friends and neighbours. Some time ago, the kayak belonging to a neighbour floated off in the night, not having been securely tied. The next morning, a friend went out in his motorboat and carefully scanned the shore for the missing craft. Finally, across the lake and nestled in fallen branches at the shoreline, he found the bright turquoise kayak bobbing in the water. He towed it back to its grateful owner, who has since kept it carefully tied up.

This makes me think about how easy it us for us to move away from the safe harbour of our salvation in Christ, and drift into the beliefs of a former life without Him, by not taking Jesus' words seriously.

Hebrews 2:1-4 – Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable and every transgression and disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. (ESV)

In previous verses, the author lays out the proof for Jesus as superior to angels, so Christians are to listen to His words and obey Him. Not to do so is to go adrift, in danger of becoming like the world around us. The Old Testament law was straight-forward and strict; Jesus and His disciples took it very seriously! Likewise, we must take the words of God's Son even more seriously. Being saved by faith is a blessed gift, but we are warned not to neglect it and risk the weariness and discouragement experienced by the Christian audience of the book of Hebrews. A salvation so great must be of the greatest importance to us, to be committed to, and not just to be comfortable in.

Can you relate to such a great salvation? We are rescued by a mighty Saviour, at an incalculable cost, from the worst fate — separation from God for all time. As Easter approaches, we hear the words of salvation declared by the Lord, which were actually heard and taught by His apostles to many others. God Himself served as a witness to Jesus' greatness with the signs and wonders performed, the ultimate one being the resurrection itself. The apostles were filled with the Spirit to continue Jesus' ministry.

Has the Easter celebration become just another ritual for you, and is your attention being drawn away by everything else going on in your world? Like the quiet and steady drift of a wayward watercraft, are you in a state of slow collapse? I invite you to fix your eyes on Jesus, the Author of our salvation, superior to any angel, and not drift away from His words.

Prayer: "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace." (Helen H. Lemmel) We thank You, Lord, for Your great salvation, and we turn to You with committed hearts, as we celebrate Your death and resurrection. Amen.

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