Dear Family and Friends,

Did you know that life as a Christ follower is like being on a surfboard? Those who surf know they must continually reset their position while waiting for a wave. If they don’t, they will not only miss the waves, they will slowly drift with the ocean currents – – to Kauai.

Being a Christ follower requires that we continually check and reset ourselves as well because, my friends, we live in a very secular sea. That secular sea is constantly pushing us, drifting us where we don’t want to go – back into our old selves.

And unlike past times, today’s currents are a lot stronger than normal.

This pandemic has made it too easy to drift away from the church. Concerns for our health has kept us from going back to church, from meeting regularly with our small groups or with friends. We tell ourselves the pandemic will soon be over. We’ll resume life once it’s safe…

Most surveys are now saying that many if not most Christians have stated they will no longer return to the Church. The reasons may vary but the decisions are the same.

Our message for today is this: let’s not be one of those who drift to Kauai. For the record, I’m speaking metaphorically. I have nothing against Kauai, in fact we vacation there.

Given the current climate of the community of Christ followers, let’s look at a few verses from Hebrews.

“See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” Hebrews 3:12 NIV

The writer of Hebrews issues an unmistakable warning to the early Christians. The King James Version uses even stronger language – an evil heart of unbelief.

The Greek word translated into ‘turn away’ is Apostēnai, the source word for “apostasy,” which means rebellion or defiance of authority. This word is frequently used to describe those who completely leave the Christian faith.

The relevance of this verse to us today becomes apparent when we read the preceding verses.

“So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ””
Hebrews 3:7-11 NIV

We all know the story of Israel’s forty year journey. How they doubted God, complained of their conditions, worshipped false gods, and failed to follow God’s commands. They were stubborn and rebellious.

Although God did not send them back to Egypt (which would mean they lost their salvation), they were not allowed to enter the Promised Land.

I believe the same may hold true for us today. Can you see the many who are complaining about their lives, chasing worldly possessions, and acting no differently than non-followers? Did you know that anxiety and faith in God are inversely related? That as one rises the other falls?

Those who drift away to Kauai may not lose their salvation, but like the Israelites, they may very well lose the blessings God promises.

Today’s verse from Hebrews 3:12, pretty much says what we need to hear today.

But take heart, the author of Hebrews offers us a solution, a way we can reset ourselves and get back on a course of following Jesus – – without jeopardizing our health and safety.

The following, told to the early Christian community, is what God wants us to hear today.

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:13 NIV

Friends, we live in extraordinary times, times that require extraordinary action on our part to avoid drifting to Kauai.

In love always,