Dr. Mike Jones

Q: You explained the ‘Great Falling Away’ in 2 Thessalonians 2, during your Book of Revelation Seminar: Can you explain what it means to ‘Drift Away From Christ?

A:“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let [them] slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;” (Hebrews 2:1-3)

This verse, like many others throughout sacred Scripture [2 Timothy 3:1-5, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, Isaiah 40:29-31, and Psalm 27:13-14], details why/how the authority we have as believers becomes less effective when we permit the cares of this world’s system to dictate the outcome of our present and our future conquests. The more we measure ourselves by this world’s standards, the more we will find ourselves drifting away from Christ.

Proverbs 29:18 states, “Where there is no vision, the people perish … ” The literal translation is this: Where there is ignorance of God, the people run wild. This should not once be named amongst true believers, because we have purposes and have been given direction through the revelation knowledge of God’s Word.

The scripture I quoted from Hebrews 2:1-3 didn’t say that the person drifting away from Christ had turned their back on Him; it simply states that a believer can “neglect” Him. The word “neglect” means to ignore, to fail to give proper attention to something or someone, or to carry out a given function. Therefore a person that’s drifting away from Christ is simply someone that’s not involved in a church ministry, reading the Word of God on a consistent basis, nor spending quality time in worship and praise.

Their excuses are ones that are heard throughout Christendom, “I still fellowship with the Body of Christ; but right now, I’m not a part of any local assembly. I’m not sure where God is going to lead me.” What they fail to realize is that the Word of God states, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another,and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Secondly, the drifting away believer starts justifying the wrong of others to prop himself/herself up: “You make it seem like I’m committing adultery, doing drugs, left my wife, etc. I’m still the same person you’ve always known; I still love my family and donate my time and money to my favorite charity.”

I believe the Word of God emphatically states that the sin of “Drifting away from Christ,” is the most tragic, dangerous sin of all. It has ruined multitudes who once were disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ!”

As I eluded to earlier, many things can cause a true believer to drift away from Christ; amongst them are the cares of this world, found in St. Matthew 6:27-34.

In this paragraph, God is saying, “Nothing changes concerning My commitment to you from My Word. You’ve taken your eyes off the prize and become more concerned about “stuff.” I’m concerned about SOULS. Let’s get back on the same page!”

Some saints get so sidetracked with the cares of this world, they don’t see the danger sign ahead to detour back on the straight and narrow path, instead of drifting toward a pitfall called spiritual blindness leading to destruction, because they’re neglecting Jesus.

I will conclude by saying, none of us are immune from the cares of this world system; it’s how we react to them based on God’s Word that makes the difference. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)