The Christian’s Responsibility to Arrest Drift

​And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place… Isa 22:23
“There are many today who, though professing Christians, are not one with Christ. They are drifting hither and thither. May God pity them. Unless help from above reaches them, they will be lost, eternally lost.  AUCR, Nov. 15, 1903

   I recently read an interesting story that graphically illustrates the religious practices of many in the Church today. The author writes:
   “Some time ago, one of the strangest tragedies in the record of wildlife occurred at Niagara Falls. The wild geese were migrating southward for the winter. Great flocks of them, wearied by the long journey from the north, settled down to rest on the quiet waters of the Niagara River above the falls. At first slowly, then faster, the careless birds were carried toward the brink of the thundering falls. On the very edge of the plunge, each bird trumpeted wildly and, by a supreme effort of wings, lifted itself from the clutching waters; then, wheeling in triumph over the chasm, returned upstream to repeat the performance. Like boys taking turns on a slippery slide, these birds by the hundreds kept up their dangerous sport.
   Fog settled down and night came on. Many of the players began to show signs of weariness, but they did not stop. Game wardens tried to frighten the birds away, but a strange fascination seemed to hold them. All night the swish of wings and the trumpeting of triumph or despair continued.
   The next morning the lower parts of the Niagara River were strewn with white bodies of those birds that, in the darkness, had misjudged the precipice or were too tired to lift themselves from the plunging waters. And strange to say, this experience is repeated every year. In varying numbers, the southbound flocks take up this fight with the falls.”1 They are only geese; but how closely do their habits mirror half-converted Church members!

   Samson was an on and off “drifter”. One day, he was powerful, focused and zealous in executing his spiritual mission… the next day, he was a slacker; seeking personal pleasure, while his mission was temporarily placed on hold. His sad narrative teaches that drifting is closely related to blindness; blind to the hidden dangers dangers lurking on the battlefield; blind to the enemy in plain view, blind to our true spiritual condition. How can we arrest drift and keep our eyes open? Here are three suggestions.​

Keep Your Up-River Mission in Mind: Sailors on the 3Angel’s Message special forces speedboat, must sail upstream and reach the Great Dam of Babylon –filled with toxic wine-- and blow it up! This urgent mission  can be more easily kept in mind by the constant study of current events in the light of Bible prophecy. Somewhere in the home of every SDA there should be a picture of the “Three Angels” of Revelation 14 so that they never forget their mission. The prophet says: “…Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it Hab. 2:2.  If your mission goal is health related --let’s say to lose weight and build more muscle-- a sign with your weight loss goal should be printed and taped to the wall in a prominent place where it will be seen. You MUST eliminate distractions on your speedboat. Time management is also crucial. Rambling phone calls, purposeless internet surfing, hours spent Facebooking or viewing non-educational television programs can defeat your mission.
Look at the Trees on the Riverbank not at the Water Around you. Bible-grounded fellow soldiers never drift, but are like trees “planted by the rivers of water” Psa. 1:3 If you find that you’re continually moving away from the faithful soldiers which God has placed in your corner of the battlefield, something usually is wrong. David wrote:    
Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me Psa. 101:6. If your eyes are on the “waters” near your boat, you will not notice that you are drifting.
The “waters” represent worldlings and worldly Christians who “go with the flow.”
Paddle with Enthusiasm. Good planning and energetic effort are necessary to move up stream. Nehemiah and his helpers were able to join the first half of the wall together under difficult circumstances because “…the people had a mind to work.” Neh. 4:6. “When God opens the way for the accomplishment of a certain work and gives assurance of success, the chosen instrumentality must do all in his power to bring about the promised result. In proportion to the enthusiasm and perseverance with which the work is carried forward will be the SUCCESS given. God can work miracles for His people only as they act their part with untiring energy.”2
   Like mesmerized geese, many are playing the dangerous game of drifting to the edge, then rallying themselves, drifting, then rallying. Are you drifting in your devotional life, drifting in your diet, drifting in your family relationships? If so, the time for permanent change is NOW.
​
References:
1) Devotional book entitled: “Walking Through the Bible with H.M.S Richards” page 184, 2003
2) Prophet and Kings, p. 263

LIVE FOR SOMETHING
Live for something, have a purpose, 
And that purpose keep in view:
Drifting like a helmless vessel.
Thou canst ne’er to life be true.
Half the wrecks that strew life’s ocean
If some star had been their guide,
Might have now been riding safely,
But they drifted with the tide.
 Live for something, and live earnest,
Though the work may humble be,
By the world of men unnoticed,
Known alone to God and thee.
Every act has priceless value
To the architect of fate;
‘Tis the spirit of thy doing
That alone will make it great.

Live for something—God and angels
Are thy watchers in the strife,
And above the smoke and conflict
Gleams the victor’s crown of life.
Live for something; God has given
Freely of His stores divine;
Richest gifts of earth and heaven,
If thou willest, may be thine.
--Robert Whitaker