Adrift
Sometimes you hear stories of ships adrift arriving off different coasts. For whatever reason these vessels have begun drifting. It could be damaged sustained while in voyage, be it from a storm or just mechanical issues. These vessels don’t arrive at the destination that they were intended to arrive at. Ships adrift that have been abandoned or neglected are often called derelict ships. Derelict is defined as being in a very poor condition as a result of disuse and neglect.
Sometimes in our spiritual journey we begin to drift. We aren’t purposefully pursuing Jesus, we are just drifting. The danger of drifting is getting lost and not arriving at the destination that we intended. We don’t accidentally land where we are supposed to. We don’t accidentally keep the faith. No, if we’re going to keep faith we’ve got to hold onto it.
Our vessel can become derelict in our lack of care. Dereliction of duty refers to the failure, whether intentional or unintentional, to fulfill one’s obligations, especially those related to one’s job or position. We don’t need to be derelict in our duties.
God has a purpose for everyone of us and if we drift we will not arrive at this purpose. Be purposeful in your journey, don’t get lost in the sea of this life by moving aimlessly. So that we can say like Paul: I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7 KJV).
1 Timothy 6:11-12 KJV 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
1 Timothy 1:19 ISV with faith and a good conscience. By ignoring their consciences, some people have destroyed their faith like a wrecked ship.