Hebrews 2:1-4

Since all this is true, we ought to pay much closer attention than ever to the truths that we have heard, lest in any way we drift past [them] and slip away.  For if the message given through angels [the Law spoken by them to Moses] was authentic and proved sure, and every violation and disobedience received an appropriate (just and adequate) penalty,  how shall we escape [appropriate retribution] if we neglect and refuse to pay attention to such a great salvation [as is now offered to us, letting it drift past us forever]? For it was declared at first by the Lord [Himself], and it was confirmed to us and proved to be real and genuine by those who personally heard [Him speak].  [Besides this evidence] it was also established and plainly endorsed by God, Who showed His approval of it by signs and wonders and various miraculous manifestations of [His] power and by imparting the gifts of the Holy Spirit [to the believers] according to His own will.

Listen, pay attention, take note, as well as other similar admonitions, are warning signs of possible danger.  Salvation is free to all of us, but it was not free for Christ.  A great price was paid for all.  Therefore, we must pay attention to all we have heard, read and know about the things of God. 

• Lest we drift away
• Lest we miss out on His blessings
• Lest we fall back into great sin.

Be sure you are on the right road.  Get out your map…the Word of God.  Watch the warning signs…the signs of the time and your own reckless conduct, and be aware of danger.

Have you ever been day dreaming and missed your turn –

• While playing a game
• A chance to own your own home
• A great job possibility
• The spouse of your dreams

all while your mind was somewhere else?

That can and does happen in regard to your spiritual life also.

Romans 12:1-2 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Did you hear the words “holy” and “acceptable to God?”

Ask yourself, “Am I presenting my body a living sacrifice?

In the Old Testament the lamb that was offered was to be spotless, without spot or blemish…pure… undefiled…not diseased or crippled.

When we dare to come into God’s presence with worship and praise, are we offering up a pure sacrifice?

We would not dare invite some important dignitary to our home for a great feast and prepare them a meal that was not properly cooked or was spoiled?  In fact, we would not allow our families to eat of the same kind of meal.  We would offer our best.  The best that we could afford.  We might even go out and buy new dishes, table linen, or silverware if our guest was really an important dignitary. 

Have any of you ever left out a key ingredient, like baking powder, when baking a cake, or put twice the amount of one ingredient into the mix?  How did it turn out?  Terrible!  I had a sister that baked a pumpkin pie using salt rather than sugar.  The salt had been put in the wrong container and, needless to say, it was totally ruined.

Your Christian life gets messed up too if you leave out God, or if you put in too much of the world’s practices.

Or, maybe you were distracted by a member of your family, the phone, your own negligence and you missed your warning signs. 

Should our offering of worship to God, or our lifestyle, be any less than our offering for man?

What is the good, the perfect, the acceptable will of God?  His Word.

What about the term “permissive will” of God that we all have heard.  What a copout!  Permissive will is not in the Word of God nor is it even implied.  Men have come up with that term to justify their own actions and behavior.  God’s will is God’s will.  What part of “Thou shalt not” did you not understand?

How can you hedge or change perfection?  You just ignore what God wants and do what you want.

Is that right?  NO!

God is not pleased with our doing our own thing.  He wants us to do His thing!  He wants you to live right and to live holy.  Part of my prayer normally includes the words, “In all I think, say and do, let my life be pleasing to you.”

Praise God, there is hope for sinful man.  He is not willing for any to perish.