It’s Not Rebellion, It’s Drift: The Subtle Way We Lose Sight of God

We live in an age of constant reminders. We set alarms on our phones, our calendars send us notifications, and apps manage our to-do lists. And yet, we are still remarkably forgetful. We forget names just moments after an introduction. We forget why we walked into a room. This kind of forgetfulness isn’t a sign of rebellion; it’s simply what happens when our attention becomes distracted or divided. It happens quietly, almost naturally.

The same is true in our spiritual lives. Very few believers wake up one morning and consciously decide to abandon God’s truth. Instead, something far more subtle occurs. Our minds get crowded, our focus gets scattered, and without realizing it, we begin to drift—not away from church, not away from belief, but away from the center, which is the gospel itself. This is Mind Drift: a subtle, unintentional shift away from the centrality of the gospel. As we navigate the complexities of life, the book of Hebrews gives us three critical reasons why we must guard against it.

1. It’s Not a Moral Failure, It's a Human Condition

The warning in Hebrews 2:1 begins, “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” That crucial word, “therefore,” refers back to the ultimate revelation of God through His Son, Jesus, which the author details in chapter 1. Because Jesus is the supreme and final word from God, we must focus intently on His message.

Notice the author includes himself by using the word “we.” Mind Drift can happen to any believer, from a new Christian to a seasoned leader. It’s a shared human vulnerability, not a unique moral failing. The core issue is not a sudden rejection of faith, but a gradual loss of focus. As other concerns crowd our minds, the good news of the gospel can begin to feel less "good." We don’t consciously backslide; we just become "dissatisfied" with Jesus. As a result, our passion for Him and His kingdom gets pushed to the back of our minds until other things become more important.

2. The Stakes of Inattention Are Dangerously High

The author of Hebrews makes a powerful argument by comparing the old covenant with the new. He writes, "For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?" (Hebrews 2:2-3a).

The "message spoken through angels" refers to the Old Testament Law. When the people of Israel transgressed (violated the clear boundary set by God) and intentionally disobeyed His commands, they received just consequences. The stakes for ignoring the ultimate message—the "so great a salvation" offered through Jesus—are far more serious. This isn't to say that a drifting believer cannot repent and return. It means that to neglect the gospel is to step away from the only source of true safety. As the source text aptly states, "The realm outside of the gospel of Jesus is a dangerous place to be. There is no guarantee of safety." The Greek word for "ignore" indicates a continuous, present-tense state of neglect, meaning there is no other path to salvation while a person is in that state.

3. Letting Go Is Simply Illogical

Finally, drifting from the gospel is profoundly illogical, given the undeniable truth upon which it stands. The book of Hebrews points to a three-fold validation involving the entire Trinity:

1. It was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself.

2. It was confirmed by his apostles ("those who heard him"), who were eyewitnesses to his life, death, and resurrection.

3. God the Father testified to it through the Holy Spirit with signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts.

In other words, the whole Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—were involved in validating its truthfulness. To ignore the gospel is to ignore God Himself. When we recognize that something is precious and true, we hold onto it tightly. To let it slip away is not just careless; it’s irrational. It's not that we intend to be foolish—it’s that drift slowly convinces us we no longer need what once saved us. To not pay attention to the gospel is, in a very real sense, like losing our minds.

“When you stop paying attention, your life loses direction.”

Conclusion: Noticing Is the First Step Back

Mind Drift is the slow, almost unnoticed shift of our thinking away from God’s truth, presence, and priorities. It’s a dangerous slope we are all prone to slide down, not through a conscious decision, but through simple inattention.

But the solution isn't perfect performance; it's gentle awareness. This week, simply notice how you respond to negative people or stressful situations. Those reactions may be invitations from God, reminding you to return your attention to the promises of the gospel. Re-centering your mind on Jesus isn’t a sign that you have failed. On the contrary, it’s a sign that you have noticed the drift.

Pause, take a slow breath, and say, “Jesus, I return my attention to You.”

Remember, noticing is where growth begins.

Note: This article was written with the help NotebookLM using my sermon notes as source.