The Word of God tells us to test ourselves to make sure we are solid in the faith, and not DRIFT along taking things for granted. I call this “The Drift Test!” It is my observation that there is a lot of “drifting” going on in the Church of Jesus Christ! The Word of God charts a specific course for us as believers, however, many seem to be drifting from God’s [set] course. Drift means deviation from a set course; to be carried along by currents of water, or air, or by the force of circumstances. It also means to wander aimlessly (without purpose). These are surely the Last Days, and many things are competing for our attention, time, and resources.
Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t DRIFT [my emphasis] along taking everything for granted. Give yourself regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it. -2 Corinthians 13:5 (MSG)
We need to give ourselves regular checkups from a spiritual perspective too! The thing about drift is that it is usually non-intentional, but intentional or not, the effect of drift is costly. The Psalms remind us that the wicked are drifting down to hell, and that drifting from the Word of God can be lethal! The Psalmist cried, “don’t let me drift towards evil.”
Don’t let me DRIFT[my emphasis] towards evil… -Psalm 141:4 (NLT)
Expose all who DRIFT [my emphasis] away from your sayings; their casual idolatry is lethal. -Psalm 119: 118 (MSG)
Don’t embarrass me by not showing up; I’ve given you plenty of notice. Embarrass the wicked, stand them up, leave them stupidly shaking their heads as they DRIFT [my emphasis] down to hell. -Psalm 31:17 (MSG)
HOW TO PASS THE DRIFT TEST
To pass the drift test, we must have drift anchors in place!
But rocky shoals prevented us from getting close. We only managed to avoid them by throwing out DRIFT ANCHORS [my emphasis]. -Acts 27:17 (MSG)
1. Commit to the covering of a Pastor.
The ministry of your Pastor will keep you from being tossed to and fro by the winds of drift!
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children, TOSSED TO AND FRO [my emphasis], and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. -Ephesians 4:11-16
2. Keep a firm grip, pay close attention, stay focused on the word of God.
It’s crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we’ve heard so that we don’t DRIFT [my emphasis] off. -Hebrews 2:1 (MSG)
We tend to drift in the direction our head is turned. For example, trying to drive a car straight, but looking off to the left or right will cause the car to veer in the direction your head is turned respectively. Keep your focus on the Word of God!
3. Stay connected (be consistent) to your local church.
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. -Hebrews 10:25
When you begin to disconnect, you begin to drift!
Then the soldiers cut away the ropes that held the small boat, and let it DRIFT [my emphasis] away. -Acts 27:32 (AMP)
Samaria and its king will be cut off; they will float away like driftwood on an ocean wave. -Hosea 10:7 (NLT)
4. Stay connected to God through your tithes and offerings.
Be a faithful tither. Many Christians have drifted away from God in tithes and offerings and need to return to God!
Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. RETURN UNTO ME [my emphasis], and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. -Malachi 3:7-8
5. Do not give up in the face of hardship and difficulty.
When we give up, or give-in to hardship and difficulty, we enter into a state of drift!
And when the ship was caught and was unable to head against the wind, WE GAVE UP [my emphasis] and, letting her drift, were borne along. -Acts 27:15
6. Continue to believe the truth and stand firmly on it!
But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t DRIFT [my emphasis] away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News… -Colossians 1:23 (NLT)
7. Continue to walk in the light of God’s Word.
…He who walks about in the dark does not know where he goes [he is drifting]. -John 12:35 [AMP]
8. Keep a pure heart, clear conscience, and a sincere faith.
…the love which springs from a pure heart, a clear conscience and sincere faith. From these some have drifted away, and have wandered into empty words. -1 Timothy 1:5-6 [Weymouth]
Did you pass the drift test? Have you drifted off course? If you failed the drift test, do what the scripture says: Do Something About It!
…If you fail the test, do something about it. -2 Corinthians 13:5 (MSG)