06.11.07

Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. - Hebrews 2:1 NKJV.

Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. - 2 Corinthians 13:5 The Message.

Expose all who drift away from your sayings; their casual idolatry is lethal. You reject earth's wicked as so much rubbish; therefore I lovingly embrace everything you say. I shiver in awe before you; your decisions leave me speechless with reverence. - Psalm 119:113c The Message.

In July of 2004, the passengers on a flight from Milan to Cagliari, Sardinia were given some unsettling news. The plane would not be landing at Cagliari, but at Alghero, Sardinia, 142 miles away and about three hours by land transportation. This was a late night flight, and all of the passengers were ready to arrive at the right destination, and find their home or a place to spend the night. The two managers on duty of the Italian airline AirOne, and the pilot of the plane made the decision to redirect the flight without telling the passengers until they were in the middle of the flight. The reason given for the decision was that the Cagliari runway was closed that night for maintenance. The two managers and the pilot have been found guilty by an Italian court of aggravated fraud, but their suspended sentences are being appealed.

Can you imagine the frustration of the passengers on the flight from Milan to Cagliari when they suddenly found out that they were going to end up at another city on the other end of the island? It was already late at night, plans had been made - who would they call, what would they do at this time of night? They ended up 142 miles and three hours away from where they wanted to be.

What about you? Are you going to end up where you want to be? Are you going to end up where God wants you to be? Are you on the right flight, the right path, or has your life flight been redirected to another destination?

Sadly, many of us find ourselves arriving at unwanted destinations in life. We intended to serve God with our lives, but somehow we became distracted by the pursuits of recreation and pleasure. Perhaps for some it was that elusive “quality time” with the family. It may appear that having a great time at the lake or the beach on Sunday with your family is “quality time.” However, nothing that is a substitute for what God wants in your life is ever going to be in your best spiritual interest or that of your family. While I was growing up my parents spent many a weekend at the lake, but the moments in my memory I treasure the most with my parents, are those few times that we were all together in church.

If we want to end up where we want to be, and where God wants us to be spiritually, we need as the writer of Hebrews says, “give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.” The apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians gives us some excellent advice so that we can stay on course, he says, “Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups.” Maybe it is time for all of us to have a test of our spiritual position, so that we do not drift far away from where we are meant to be. Are you on course? Or, have you drifted away?