July 15, 1928 — “Tent Cathedral,” Brooklyn NY

Blessed Lord, we realise it is so very easy to drift without the feeling of Thy hand ever in our own; without the knowledge that Thou art ever beside us; without the voice of Thy promises to encourage us it is so easy to drift! Lord, so many times we have failed to walk with Thee and talk with Thee, and hold counsel with Thee; as a result many of us are without the joy of Thy constant fellowship, without the knowledge that our hearts are really right with Thee. We pray, Lord, that those who are drifting may be helped to head their boats upstream and not drift along carelessly with the current. May the Holy Spirit show us what we ought to do and help us to start doing it. Direct us in the right way. We ask it in the precious Name to which we ascribe all honour and glory. Amen.

In the first and second verses of the second chapter of Hebrews, the sacred writer presents his argument for holy living: because of the greatness of God, because of the love of God, because of the manifestation of His power, because of the Gospel which Jesus Himself delivered into the hands of His apostles, and which the apostles not only put on the written scroll, but, by word of mouth, handed down to us. For this reason we are told to give “the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.”

It is a comparatively easy matter to be fully consecrated to the Lord and intent on living the Christian life, and, then almost unconsciously to begin to slip back into the old way of living. Jesus must have thought of that when He said, “Strive to enter in.” When we cease striving we cease progressing. Our text emphasizes this truth: it is possible for one to receive the Gospel, be touched and even transformed by its message, and then through carelessness and neglect turn a dissenting ear to it and lose that life-giving portion and blessing that was his. All lost, just by allowing it to carelessly slip away.

The process is just like a boat in the middle of the stream which slips away and drifts out and down because there is no one watching to keep it in the right course. There are those in the Christian Church who, after being saved, neglect this “great salvation” which should be “worked out” in their daily lives. They go the effortless way of the current.

The message of this passage in Hebrews, then, is that we are not to let these opportunities slip by. In the first chapter of this book we see all that God did. It reviews His work, His power, His greatness. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,” it tells us. Then the Son came and the angels, and then the ministers. And to them all we are told to give earnest heed. We recall the time when we knelt at the foot of the Cross and gave our all to Jesus, when we felt our sins blotted out and when we knew our names were written in heaven, just as clearly as if we saw them with our mortal eyes. We remember how we said with gladness, “I know in whom I have believed,” and felt our whole lives filled with music. That is all very well, but do we feel that same way today? Ah, this is the important thing: Once you had the blessed assurance that you belonged to Jesus. Not only that, but you possessed that strange and wondrous knowledge that He belonged to you, that He was your Saviour. But now, as you look back, how has it been with you? Has this sweet and holy fellowship continued unbroken: your love, unaltered; your time of prayer and Bible reading, undenied? Or did you see opportunities of working for the Lord which you let slip simply through the excuse that you had something to do for yourself? Did you have opportunities of testifying for Jesus and let them go, and then found you had no testimony to give? You knew you were a new creature in Christ Jesus, for all things had become new. But did the new things stay new? Did they always hold the newly-discovered thrill or did you let them become secondary and commonplace? If you did, then it was because you had lost the magic touch of prayer.

If you had not drifted, your life would have been more blessed than it is today; you would have had an increased joy born of constant Christian living and fellowship with Him whose name you bear. How easy it is to drift! There are just thousands of people in this land of ours that have experienced the joy of salvation and yet have failed to obey the Scripture injunction — “Hold that fast which thou hast,” and because they have failed they think Jesus has, too! But never! Jesus is as able to help you after you have failed as before you have failed — and as willing!

There are lots of things to hinder us in living for Jesus. Indeed it seems at times as though the whole world were against us. Not enough that the devil, enemy of every soul, should oppose us, but the old carnal nature rebels, too, for “the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom. 8: 7, 8). Satan opposes us, the outside world opposes us and the old Adamic nature hinders, too; but Christian friends, that is no excuse! Jesus has said, “In the world you have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” And it matters not that the whole world seems to oppose, you may still stand and, with a great confidence in your heart, sing praises to the Lord Jesus.

The Lord allows these things to come just like a rock in the road. The wagon wheels come to the rock and find difficulty in getting over it, but once over the rock stands guard behind the wheel, keeping it from sliding back again. Every trial, when it is past, leaves its support and encouragement. It is when we lose our vision that we drift. You recall the man who took a job as sexton. He saw people being buried. At first, as he saw them being brought in, it gave him much concern. He thought about God, and wondered whether or not these people were saved. Some of them he had known; some he could have tried to win to Christ while they were yet alive. Would they have gone to a Christless grave if he had done his part in bringing them the Gospel? With every day more caskets arrived. The sexton grew less thoughtful. As the days went by the matter impressed him less and less. It seemed easier and easier for him to help in the burial. He forgot that people were dying in sin. He no longer wondered if they were saved. Finally the work became pure routine and provoked no thought in him, at all.

Herein lies a warning! Let us not grow so familiar with religion as to lose the soul-stirring and faith-increasing quality which makes it vital and precious. We are apt to say the Lord’s Prayer so often and to sing hymns so frequently that we forget the meaning of any and all of them. Let us ask the Lord ever to keep before us the need souls have for salvation and our responsibility in leading them into the way.

Some people never think for a moment that it is easier to drift backward than to row forward. Some have drifted sleepily along through so many months, perchance, years, so that when, at last, they are awakened to their need, they discover it to be appalling.

On Christmas Day, about two years ago in Miami, I went out to swim one morning before breakfast. Mother had called me for my usual morning swim, but I was so sleepy! I plunged in, however, and found the water warm and still. After swimming out some little distance I lay over on my back to float. The sun made it so warm that I was just lying there enjoying myself. And I fell asleep! I certainly don’t see how it could have happened, but, anyway, it did, and turning on my side I found I was not in bed at all — as I had thought — but under water and choking. You may be sure that I struck out energetically for the shore. Now I had drifted out quite a distance, unconsciously, before I had gone completely to sleep — and I was frightened when I wakened so suddenly! It would frighten some of you, no doubt, if you were to really awaken, today, and find how far you have drifted without knowing it, on the spiritual sea.

Some, upon discovering how they have drifted, are afraid to stop and look back. There are so many miles between them and the Cross. There are so many miles they have departed from living in the light as Christ is in the light. Therefore, they cannot turn about to hear the voice of the preacher without being convicted, and knowing that they have been drifting all this while aimlessly and carelessly along. You can either live your life selfishly, or gloriously for the Lord. It may be easier to live a selfish life, and shabby life for the Lord, but you must put your trust in Him and go straight forward and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you, if you would live gloriously. Then you will not drift.

When they hear about “drifting America” some people say, “But America is not drifting.” You think it to be a thing impossible for us to drift? Do you realize that Babylon and Greece and Rome drifted? And is it not possible, yea probable, that a prosperous nation, with its subsequent luxuries, shall omit the spiritual and drift toward materialism? Yes, verily, and that means death to the spiritual! Americans are getting to be ease-loving people, money-loving people, and — here is the danger — church-tolerating people. To tolerate the church instead of supporting it! America is drifting fast toward prayerlessness. Only the God-fearing, Bible-reading, prayer-offering people of this country can keep it from drifting into utter godlessness, as kingdoms of the past have drifted. Listen to the word in I Tim. 2: “I exhort, therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” For our President, for every member of the Cabinet, for every Senator, for every Congressman, for every Governor and every Mayor in these United States of America, we ought to pray. It is a safeguard against drifting.

And take heed of this: it is possible for our churches to drift, too. This day that is going into history will be regarded, by many, as a day of drifting. When a new religious awakening comes to America people are going to discuss this day, particularly with its attack upon evangelism, as a day of spiritual lethargy. When the minds of church members are on the material things continuously it is impossible that the church will not suffer. Above all things it is the duty of a minister today to stand in the pulpit and preach the Word. Indeed, if he has to step out of the pulpit and make the street corner his pulpit, he must preach the Word and make the people hear. He must tell the people in what direction they are going, that they must repent, as Jesus Himself told them: “Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.” There is no substitute for the Gospel of Jesus, no cleansing so thorough, no guidance so divine, no encouragement so genuine, as that which results from the Gospel of our Lord. The fragrance and sweetness of its truth is the power which will drive out dead formalism and worldly-mindedness from any church.

If you want to see a drifting church with a few languid members gathered together on Sunday morning visit a church where there is no spirit of devotion in the congregation—where there is no sense of praise, no reading of the Word as the true inspired Bible — and you will find it drifting, right enough. And the leaders are letting the others drift on, to meet the tests and temptations of the world, without the truth they must have to overcome. Brother minister, our responsibility is great, it is our business to strengthen the weak hands, to urge them to grip the oars and turn the boat upstream. While some are drifting others are plowing upstream. No one, except he so choose, need to live a powerless, apologetic, compromising life. God is the same wonder-worker. He has not taken the Holy Spirit away from the Church. He has come to abide with us forever. Can we not claim the same power for the Church of today which the Apostolic Church knew? I believe we can.
Let us not forget the importance of the individual. Individuals make the Church, the nation. Every life has its influence upon other lives. One praying, soul-winning Christian in a single church exerts tremendous influence over the entire company. He is the “crown of rejoicing” to the minister, he is the “living epistle” to all men. When an individual member of the church begins drifting, he encourages others to do so.

Some Christians drift away from the Word. The Psalmist said, “Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.” True this, then, that either “this Book will keep me from sin, or sin will keep me from this Book.”

We must take the Word of God for what it is — a sure foundation. Oh, if you have drifted away from the Bible, come back again! Renew your vows! Do not drift away from the personality of Jesus nor be persuaded to accept a mere theory in its place. Do not accept untried doctrines for the ancient power of Jesus. May we not go on living, simply doing the “best we can” when we can have God’s best!

Remember Peter. Like us, he is full of mistakes, very human and impulsive, but down in his heart always wanting to please the Master. But, Peter drifted — and so have we. Yet, if Peter came back, can not we?

Peter drifted away from the Lord at a most critical time, and that is usually what the rest of us do. Just a time when we ought to stand fast, we drift.

It all began with a boast, you know. And how often have our backslidings begun that way! Peter said (we have read the account from Mark 14, verse 29), “although all shall be offended,” he said, “yet will not I.” On the spur of the moment he had felt he could do anything in the world for Jesus. Then he suddenly lost his courage when the time came. There might have been a time when you thought it impossible that you should ever drift, and you told others so. You testified to the great satisfaction you had found in living the Christian life, and you said, “though all others turn and flee, I shall be faithful always.” You boasted, not that “by His grace” you would do this or that, but simply because you were living the Christian life then you supposed you would be able always to do so. But take heed how you boast. Paul said, “I glory not save in the cross of Christ.”

The next evidence of Peter’s drifting is found in the thirty-seventh verse of the same chapter. Peter failed to watch and pray, and Jesus “cometh and findeth them sleeping and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? Couldst thou not watch with me one hour?” We see the unwatchfulness and prayerlessness of Peter caused him to get farther away from the Lord, but there was another step in his drifting. It was his fleshly service, (verse 47) his doing what he thought the Lord wanted him to do for Him, and not what the Lord told him. When the soldiers came into Gethsemane to take Jesus prisoner, Peter took out his sword and struck off the ear of the High Priest’s servant. Have you ever wanted to lead people away from perhaps some false doctrine: or, that is, you thought it was? And you took out a sword and not only cut off their ear with the sword but their whole head?

Sometimes intolerance of the religious views and practices of others lead to using the sword like Peter’s, to the harm of everybody’s conscience, rather than the Sword of the Spirit, which should be our whole defence.

But, this is not the last of Peter’s drifting. We read, in the fifty-fourth verse, “Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.” What did he do? He didn’t walk by the Master’s side, not when Jesus’ hands were in chains. He didn’t walk by His side and say, “Master, can I take some message to somebody? Can I help you, Lord Jesus!” No, he followed afar off, and although he must have been silent and down-cast, yet he was walking with the crowd that was laughing and jeering and making fun of his Master, and would eventually crucify Him.

And when he got to the high priest’s palace, what did he do? He stood back. He was with the soldiers and servants and warmed his hands by the fire and talked with the enemies of Jesus. What was the result? The denial of Jesus, just as He, Himself, had prophesied. Read verse sixty-eight:

“Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.” “I don’t know anything about salvation, I don’t know anything about this Jesus you talk about. I tell you, I know nothing about this matter.”

First, not prayerful and watchful, then using his sword against somebody, then he talked with the enemies of Jesus when he could have taken his stand, and at last, he denied his Lord. Surely he had drifted a long way off since he had said, “We believe and art sure thou art the Son of God.”

Once you said, “I believe Jesus is the Son of God.” There was a ring to your testimony, a reality behind your words. You could hardly imagine that you, yourself, could backslide. Others might fail the Lord but you would not think of doing so! Then you failed to watch and pray: because you did not watch you let sin creep in and because you did not pray it stayed in, gnawing its way into your very soul, destroying as it went. Then whatever service you rendered in the church was of your own pleasure and plan. It was fleshly service, not a result of spiritual understanding and appreciation. You followed Jesus afar off.

See how much like Peter you have been? And, at last, you found your best friends were people who didn’t love your Master at all, or care anything about His Church, yet you talked their language, did the things they did, and when the subject of Christ or the Bible or religion was brought up you were diplomatic. So diplomatic, that you never spoke a word for Jesus or said a thing that might endanger your friendship with the world! You “denied the Lord that bought you” and “counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith you were sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” Yes, Peter drifted! But so have you! Do not pity or condemn Peter when you have done likewise.

But, listen: Peter got back, and so can you! Stop! Put the oars straight out against the current and come back. The Lord will open up the way for you. He will put strength into your arms to grip the oars. The tide is strong and you have gone with it too long, but by His grace and power you can come back.

Peter stopped drifting and came back. It was probably a result of what Jesus had said when He told Peter before all this happened that he would deny Him. But even then Jesus told Peter, “Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.” And remember this, Jesus is still the Intercessor. He is now at the right hand of God. He is making unceasing petitions for you night and day. You are never, never out of His presence. He knows your need and He will supply your need. He remembers you and is ever presenting your need before the Father’s throne.

Not only the fact that Jesus said He was praying for him brought Peter back, but we read in Luke 22:61 that “the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.” When the Master turned those eyes of compassion, so deep and unfathomable, and looked at him, Peter remembered and went out and wept bitterly.

But, you recall what happened when Jesus came out of the grave on the resurrection morning. He sent word to the disciples, “Go tell my disciples — and Peter.” Peter! Peter, who denied his Lord and said he didn’t know anything about Him; yet when Jesus stood by the open grave He said, “Take my message to the disciples, and Peter.”

Notice that Peter had everything to do with his drifting away from the Lord — but it was the Lord that had everything to do with getting him back. Three things Jesus did for Peter — prayed for him before his denial, looked at him during his denial, sent a message to him after his denial. “I know your trials are heavy. Peter,” He said, “But I am going to be in Galilee again. One day I passed along and said, ‘Follow Me,’ and you followed Me. And even though you denied Me, I have not forsaken you.”

Yes, Peter would go into Galilee, as he was bidden in the Easter message — and that early morning when he saw Jesus there alone on the shore he just jumped out of the boat and swam for shore. He wasn’t going to drift any more, and he had a determination to get to Jesus (we read of this in John 21:7).

When he did come Jesus questioned him three times. He had denied his Lord three and Jesus questioned him three times. “Simon, son of James, lovest thou me more than these?” And Peter said: “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.”

“Lovest thou me — Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?” Indeed he did. “Simon, lovest thou me, more than those boats, more than the servants in the house of the high priest at whose fire you warmed your hands? Lovest thou me more than these?” “Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee.”

And what did Jesus do? He took him back at the beginning and said, “Peter, follow thou me.” One day Jesus had said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” And this day He took him back to the beginning and said, “Peter, follow me.” You may have drifted — all of us have at times. But He is so willing and His message to you today is that of His forgiveness, His readiness to help you and take you back, though you have drifted away from Him.

If you really stop drifting and start the Christian life over again in earnest you must have more than just a message from Jesus through somebody else. You must have a talk with Jesus Himself. He will take you back to the beginning, like He took Peter, and He will say those two words which you heard so many years ago, and which thrilled and transformed your life, “Follow Me.” They still hold the same charm and brightness — yea, more to you than ever before, for you can appreciate them now. Jesus stands upon the shore. He waits for you to come to Him, as Peter came. No one has drifted so far that they cannot do that, because all you have to do is turn to Him, open your heart, confess your need, ask His forgiveness.

Just come, like Peter did. He came on the shore and there was asked, “Lovest thou me?” And if you can say, “Lord, thou knowest I love thee,” not once or twice but three times and mean it more than anything else in the world, then forgiveness is yours.

Peter had not lost his faith in Jesus for the Master had prayed that his “faith fail not” . . . if he lost faith he couldn’t come back and neither can you. But you still believe in Jesus’ love and goodness and power to save you, don’t you? You may not believe so much in yourself but that also means you have ridded yourself of that proud and boastful spirit which first started you drifting. Faith brings you back. Faith brings the drifting individual back; prayer brings the drifting nation back; Holy Spirit power brings the drifting church back. But after all, our personal relationship with Jesus Christ as individuals means more to us than anything else. If we have drifted let us repent and come back, and renew our covenant with our Lord.

 Source: Why I am a Preacher: A Plain Answer to an Oft-Repeated Question, by Uldine Utley (NY: Fleming H. Revell), pp. 135-152.