Hebrews 2:1Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 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; 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
None of us have a great deal of possessions. Of all the earthly possessions we do have, none of them come close to matching what we have in the Lord. He is by far the most important. What we have in him didn’t come by the sweat of our brow; it is a gift of God brought to us through the nail-scarred hands of Jesus, not of works lest any man should boast.
We keep valuables in a safe place. Contrast this with how church people do. I’ve watched what has happened here the last 18 years. God has blessed but I have seen a slipping away and not only here but in the county, the state and the nation. It’s not just a slipping away of people. Before that ever started, little things slipped through their fingers. A lot of people used to come but they slipped away. The more we let the things of God slip through our fingers the more we slip in our relationship with him. It’s a downhill slip not an uphill one. The more you slip, the further you get away from the Lord. First you miss a Sunday and pretty soon it’s two or three Sundays. The Lord’s Day used to be holy; now people are at Walmart or on the lake or just lying in bed.
Look at your grip, your own fingers. Is the grip what it used to be? The times call for Christians to firm up the grip. We can all move up. We cannot go to sleep. Verse 1 tells us we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. Don’t forget what God has taught us. If our testimony only goes as far as to each other, it’s not enough. We know each other is a Christian. It’s time to tell sinners outside these church walls that you’re a child of God. Don’t be afraid to do it. We’d had better fear God and not man. The Bible tells us not to fear those who can harm our body but to fear the Lord who can destroy both body and soul in hell.
Are you slipping in praying? Slipping in church attendance? Slipping in studying God’s Word? Is your testimony slipping? Is your love for God slipping? Do you think you’d never be like Peter or Judas? If you come here on Sunday but kiss up to the world and blend in during the week, you already are. Does Jesus see a little denial and betrayal in us? If there is ever a need to get hold of the Lord it is now. If we let up our grip on God, the devil will get a grip on us. We cannot say we didn’t know. We have the Word. We’ve been told. It’s time to stop reading it and time to start studying it with a heart to practice it. It’s time to get a grip. Don’t slip.
We’ve all fallen at times when we’ve been walking. We slip and the next thing we know we’re on the ground. It hurts. Sometimes the pain we cause the Lord and ourselves by spiritual slipping isn’t noticed until we ‘hit the ground.’ The devil will show no mercy when we do. Verse 3 says 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. What means the most? The Lord? You may say that, but does he really? If we have to let everything else slip so that we hold onto Jesus we had better do it. We must have a grip on God. If we hold fast to the Lord and get a firmer grip, then the firmer God’s grip will be on us. The looser the grip we have on God, the stronger the grip of the devil. If it happens we cannot blame the devil. It is our own fault. When I fell on the ice last winter I couldn’t blame the ice. I knew it was there. It was my fault. Quit blaming our lack of dedication to the Lord on somebody or something else. The responsibility is ours to walk in the Spirit and not the flesh.
Joab ran to the altar when Jehu was after him. This meant God’s judgment was coming. He grabbed the horns of the altar but it was too late. I don’t know when it will be too late but it will be. People will run to the altar of this church but it will be too late. We need to call on the Lord right now. Today is the day of salvation. Today is the day to get a grip. What kind of hold do you have?
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 