“We must PAY THE MOST CAREFUL ATTENTION (prosechō: to devote serious thought and effort to), therefore, to what we HAVE HEARD, SO THAT WE DO NOT DRIFT AWAY (pararrhueō: slip away from God.) For since the message spoken through angels was BINDING, and every VIOLATION and DISOBEDIENCE received its just punishment, HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE IF WE IGNORE so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.” (Heb. 2:1-4)
So, how do we prevent this “drifting away?” Jesus described this as a very serious matter, when He taught the parable of the “seed” as the Word of God, “Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and TAKES AWAY THE WORD out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.” (Luke 8:11-12) Our Lord warned of this problem long ago, “Now this is the COMMANDMENT, and these are the statutes and judgments which the LORD your God has COMMANDED TO TEACH YOU, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess…And THESE WORDS which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall TEACH THEM DILIGENTLY TO YOUR CHILDREN, and shall TALK OF THEM when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deut. 6:1, 6-9) As parents, we are responsible to keep the WORD OF GOD before our children so they do not “drift away“!
Why is this so important? “For the word of God is ALIVE and POWERFUL. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It EXPOSES our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. EVERYTHING IS NAKED AND EXPOSED BEFORE HIS EYES, and He is the one to whom WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE.” (Heb. 4:12-13)
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE (accountable) TO GOD TO DO WHAT HE HAS COMMANDED US TO DO!!!
-Bill Stockham