Adrian Vasquez frantically waved from his tiny fishing boat. A cruise ship was within eyesight! After their boat’s engine had failed, Adrian and two friends had been adrift for days on the ocean, far from their Panamanian town. Some passengers aboard the cruise ship spotted the three and told crewmembers. But, inexplicably, the ship didn’t stop to help the three fishermen. When Adrian was finally rescued by a different ship 2 weeks later, tragically both of his friends had perished.
Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, pleading with them to turn back and take the “life ring” of true faith in Jesus. It’s apparent that some members of the church had been attending pagan religious services (1 Corinthians 10:14-22). Paul knew that their embracing of idolatry was a sign that they were drifting from true belief in God. He questioned, “How can light live with darkness? . . . How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15).
There’s a vast gulf between those who are in Christ and those who aren’t. Paul used the metaphor of a temple, one filled with a “living God” (2 Corinthians 6:16). He was pointing to the purity that should be present in our lives by the work of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 6:6). And he implored the Corinthians to cleanse themselves from “everything that can defile our body or spirit” (2 Corinthians 7:1).
Paul wasn’t advocating total separation from unbelievers—that would deny Jesus’ prayer for our ministry in the world (John 17:15-16). But the apostle did tell his readers not to be of the world and to stick to the moorings of holy living in Jesus.
Do you know a believer who’s starting to drift toward sin and disbelief? Don’t just cruise on by. Throw out that life ring.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 10:1-23
More:
Read 1 Peter 2:12 and note what Peter says the outcome can be when we live out holiness before unbelievers.
Next:
In what ways have you experienced spiritual drift? How can you help a friend who’s drifting into an unholy pattern of life?
ehdlive on October 23, 2013 at 2:28 am
This world is full of stuff that could lead us astray or drift way. The need to be on-guard and not to be complacent is paramount.
BearPair on October 23, 2013 at 3:18 am
Excellent innustration Tom! What really grieves me is that we can see people all around us, on any given day, htrowing calls for help, and yet, it is so easy to simply ignore them, letting others–if they will–to answer that call of help. In the words of fellow-rescuer, Ron Hutchcraft, we need to be in the business of rescuing lives, not ignoring them. God help us so to live!
Thanks Tom@
tom felten on October 23, 2013 at 8:58 am
Thanks, BearPair (Terry). When I think of Jesus and His instruction for us to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16), He called us to be winsome lights, drawing people in and presenting His message. But we are also to be salt, living holy lives that reveal His holiness to the whole world.
daisymarygoldr on October 24, 2013 at 1:48 am
Q: How can we help a believer who’s starting to drift toward sin and unbelief?
A: Throw out that life ring of true faith in Jesus.
Faith comes by the hearing and hearing by the word of God. So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. (Hebrews 2:1)
mike wittmer on October 24, 2013 at 8:35 am
Thank you for this challenge, Tom. It’s easy today to shake our heads at sin rather than weep for the one who is bound by it. May God give me the chance today to speak to someone about Him.
winn collier on October 31, 2013 at 2:52 pm
This makes me think about James’ words, that whoever pulls in one who has wandered from the faith, covers a multitude of sins. I’ve needed to be pulled in a time or two.