“ If only you had paid attention to my commands, your PEACE would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea.” ISAIAH 48:17-19
One of our television commercials got my attention recently, when it said “our diamonds don’t leak.” Frankly, I had never considered that it would be possible for a diamond to leak. They are the strongest of gems and can cut glass; these are things I knew, but leak? As I watched this infomercial more intently I could see that light was definitely “leaking” from the facets as the laser passed over it. Ok, maybe diamonds do leak. It isn’t often I am in the market for diamonds, but next time I am, besides asking about the four C’s, I’ll ask if it leaks.
My mind began to consider the idea of “leaking.” What else might “leak” that I had never pondered before? Yes, the standard things: water pipes, oil from the car, corporate and political “leaks”; but what else leaks? With this simmering on the back burner of my thoughts, my Bible Study began to study some verses in Hebrews. “We must, therefore, pay even more attention to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away.” (2:1) What we are not to ignore, from Hebrews 1, is that God speaks to us now through the Son. The Son has made possible our salvation through his birth, death, resurrection and ascension to the right hand of the Father. This verse is a stern warning to pay very careful attention to what we know is true and then live the life of faith accordingly.
As I began to study this verse in particular, I was struck by what the “drifting” meant. The obvious idea of a boat drifting from its moorings came to mind; the results of a poorly or quickly tied knot, perhaps? But it also means to “evaporate” which is not as easily detected. Leaking: It is insidiously and quietly accomplished; it doesn’t need drama, nor does it need to be sudden. I’ve thought of times that I’ve been busy and don’t take the time to sit with His Word in my lap, contemplating its application to my heart. Too many days of doing that and leaking can occur—a slow evaporation of what is important. Just like the car battery that has been allowed to sit unused for a period of time, when we finally “turn it over” there is only the “click, click” of a disabled power source.
Leaking occurs in my mind and heart when I am sloppy in how I handle the Truth because of unclear thinking or insufficient application or misunderstanding of its meaning. Good ideas and good intentions can fail to mature, leaking out and then be lost forever. Like the ideas we get in the middle of the night as we dream! We get an answer or an idea, and are even excited about it in the dark- of- night, but by light of day it has evaporated into thin air! Even the note you scribbled in the dark at the time, means nothing. Where does it go? Evaporation?
So, how can I remedy this situation? How can I be sure I am not “leaking”? How can I not drift from what is important? These I offer as a start: A) Stay close to the One who wants me to be close to Him. B)Study and meditate on His teachings. C) Ask Him to keep me aware when I first begin to “leak,” or “drift.” D) Meet with my Accountability Partner. (If you don’t already have an “accountability” partner who asks you the hard questions, get one! ) Left to ourselves we can meander through the tides of life, without a lifeline of safety. And when we drift, we can end up where we never intended to go. E) Focus on the shoreline (the foundation of Christ) and adjust your headings! Evaporation leads to leaking, leaking to drifting or even drowning! F) Tie a stronger knot and hold on to the Anchor of our Soul, our sure Hope!
Let’s be able to say together, “Our faith doesn’t leak!”
