Drifting Away
Drifting Away
Have you ever noticed when a boat which has been tied to a dock gets loose somehow that it begins to “drift”?
There is a point when it gets far enough away from the dock and land that it is difficult to get it back.
The presence of GOD is our “dock” and HIS WORD is the rope and the “land” In fact….HIS KINGDOM and His Kingdom is tied up with the rope, the dock and land so when our hearts equivalent to our minds or thoughts, wills the choices we make and emotions how we “feel” or “sense” things begin to “drift” from HIS presence…it is hard to come back although not impossible.
NOT impossible because we belong TO Him and are sealed with a promise….HIS name is Holy Spirit!
THE only time a boat should ever leave the dock or land is when the “navigator” is leading it to do so. This way it can be steered in the “right direction” and not crash into some object or other boat in the water.
Holy Spirit is our Navigator.
Before we get more acquainted with our Navigator, Holy Spirit ….let’s look at the “drifting away” part.
First off, you cannot have a docking without the land in which to dock and HIS presence connects us to HIS Kingdom and you cannot be in His presence without some connection to the WORD Whose name is JESUS and HE is in spirit and written form to us. We as a boat must be tied up to the dock and only when the Navigator gets in the boat (us) to lead us to “do” something or “go” somewhere do we leave the dock. THING IS….when the Navigator is IN the boat, the dock is always connected because HE knows where the dock is at all times, and the rope remains in the boat as well! The other thing about this boat that makes it unique is that it has a “navigational device” like a GPS, that helps locate direction and course. We have the best “navigational device GPS” which is the sealed promise named Holy Spirit Who is the navigator to lead as well!
So what happens when we “drift away”?
The very first thing that occurs is that the rope is no longer in connection with the dock and may or may not be anchored IN the boat as it should be. The next thing that happens is the current or wind and waves will begin to take the boat out in an unguided manner and it will then be tossed about by any kind of wave that comes along or wind that blows. In nautical terms it is called “adrift” and means: no power, unsecured; as in: without wind and no engine.
The cool thing about THE Navigator is that once the boat (us) realize we are adrift, we can call out a “distress signal” which means: indicators signifying a vessel is in danger, a request for assistance letting someone (The One in this instance) know that the boat is adrift, and Holy Spirit not limited by time or space, proceeds to guide us back to the dock. WHEN a boat has that navigational device inside then the “radar” can pick up where it is and go get it.
We can never hide from our Heavenly Father or be lost from His sight…see Psalms 139.
When the boat is loosed from the dock without Holy Spirit guiding then every wind of doctrine or wave of philosophy or theology will begin to creep in tossing us about in our thinking. The influence of the wave and wind will bear in the mind/thinking that takes us back to doubt and unbelief of what we have learned about that is Truth. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. Check it out:
Parable of the sower…Matthew13:3-9,18-23
“3 He told them many things in parables, saying, “Listen carefully: a sower went out to sow [seed in his field]; 4 and as he sowed, some seed fell beside the road [between the fields], and the birds came and ate it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil; and at once they sprang up because they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and thorns came up and choked them out. 8 Other seed fell on good soil and yielded grain, some a hundred times as much [as was sown], some sixty [times as much], and some thirty. 9 He who has ears [to hear], let him hear and heed My words.”
“18 ‘Listen then to the [meaning of the] parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom [regarding salvation] and does not understand and grasp it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. 20 The one on whom seed was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and at once welcomes it with joy; 21 yet he has no [substantial] root in himself, but is only temporary, and when pressure or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles and falls away [abandoning the One who is the source of salvation]. 22 And the one on whom seed was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the worries and distractions of the world and the deceitfulness [the superficial pleasures and delight] of riches choke the word, and it yields no fruit. 23 And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands and grasps it; he indeed bears fruit and yields, some a hundred times [as much as was sown], some sixty [times as much], and some thirty’.”
The boat drifts when the Word is heard and not practiced consistently!
Is it work? YES! It is! And it is why we must persevere!
James 1:12-18
“12 Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God” [for temptation does not originate from God, but from our own flaws]; for God cannot be tempted by [what is] evil, and He Himself tempts no one. 14 But each one is tempted when he is dragged away, enticed and baited [to commit sin] by his own [worldly] desire (lust, passion). 15 Then when the illicit desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin has run its course, it gives birth to death. 16 Do not be misled, my beloved brothers and sisters. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes]. 18 It was of His own will that He gave us birth [as His children] by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of His creatures [a prime example of what He created to be set apart to Himself—sanctified, made holy for His divine purposes].”
That word “sin” in verse 15 in the root meaning is a division of union…meaning something has brought a division from being rooted and grounded in Life, Truth! And instead brings death or deadly, to die.
Like the boat adrift will eventually “come apart” because of the waves or wind slamming it to pieces. A boat rightly navigated by one who can read the navigational device can avoid storms that are bent on destruction!
Paul said this about the heart and why always “now” is important:
Hebrews 3:12-14
12 [Therefore beware] brethren, take care, lest there be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart [which refuses to cleave to, trust in, and rely on Him], leading you to turn away and desert or stand aloof from the living God. 13 But instead warn (admonish, urge, and encourage) one another every day, as long as it is called Today, that none of you may be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin [by the fraudulence, the stratagem, the trickery which the delusive glamor of his sin may play on him]. 14 For we have become fellows with Christ (the Messiah) and share in all He has for us, if only we hold our first newborn confidence and original assured expectation [in virtue of which we are believers] firm and unshaken to the end.”
He knew how quickly the heart can be tossed when it isn’t in “port” docked to the right One!
When the Israelites forgot the miraculous and awe inspiring things Heavenly Father did in view of all of them….they began to whine, murmur, complain and in their hearts they drifted away, became hardened and they “FORGOT”! It angered God because they no longer “believed”. Believing is not just saying you trust, but trusting by doing, speaking and thinking! In Hebrews 11:6 we know it says, without Faith…it is impossible to please God! When you murmur or complain or just stop practicing what you KNOW to do, your heart begins to harden and little by little that power seems lessened and is because that fire has NOT been stoked by practicing the Word. Rehearsing testimonies, sharing them keeps that fire inside burning bright with hope and expectation of the voyage and explorations with the Lord that He has….divine appointments and such exciting things! It brings great thanksgiving in our hearts when we keep alive the things we have seen and heard HE HAS DONE and IS doing! Rehearsing and repeating what we have heard and/or experienced brings hope inside and then again as belief begins building into faith FOR something that seems impossible. Then at the point of a genuine “faith walk” not just a “faith stroll” or “faith row” (for the purpose of referencing a boat) it becomes a “lifestyle” a “bearing” which is the reference point for ships to know how to navigate. Otherwise, we “drift away”.
You can have Holy Spirit as the Navigator, and have the navigational device on board but not know how to utilize this in order to get the right direction or “bearing”. IT is why, practicing the Word is essential for our Life Voyage…meaning a passage of some duration!
Not being adrift, but sailing as we should, being guided by THE Navigator, we have “safe passage” defined as: official protection offered to someone who is in danger or who is traveling through a dangerous place…on our Life Voyage…doesn’t mean there won’t be waves or wakes even storms unforeseen coming at us, but it does mean no matter what comes…we have THE Navigator Who is connected to Jesus, Heavenly Father and HIS Kingdom. It means that even in the presence of enemies…we have a table to feast from! We can enjoy the “ride” instead of being tossed about by every wave and wind in fear!
Ephesians 4:14-15
“14 So that we are no longer children [spiritually immature], tossed back and forth [like ships on a stormy sea] and carried about by every wind of [shifting] doctrine, by the cunning and trickery of [unscrupulous] men, by the deceitful scheming of people ready to do anything [for personal profit]. 15 But speaking the truth in love [in all things—both our speech and our lives expressing His truth], let us grow up in all things into Him [following His example] who is the Head—Christ.”
May the Lord bless you and keep you and make HIS face to shine upon you and give you shalom, in Jesus mighty name…AMEN!
Love to each of you beloved ones!!
Rev. Lori