Articles
No Escape
No Escape
How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? —Hebrews 2:3
Neglect is defined as omitting by carelessness or design to do, use, employ or attend to; to omit to receive or embrace; forbearance to do anything that can be done or should be done. Spiritually, there are many dangerous sins that have the power to bring the wrath of God down on us in judgment. I, for one, believe the writer of Hebrews warns us of one of the greatest, namely neglect. Neglect is the one thing that is going to cause many people to come to everlasting grief one day.
Neglect is a malady that appears often in the form of forgetfulness, slothfulness, procrastination or just plain old rebellion against the will of God. Consider this, anyone who neglects for whatever reason, to obey the will of God, will one day hear the words, “I never knew you, depart from me” (Matt.7:21-23, Luke 6:46-49, 2 John 9). Outside of Christ there is only condemnation while being in Him, there is redemption (Acts 4:12, Col. 1:12-13). To be in Him and become a partaker of eternal life one must believe in him (John 6:29, John 3:16), repent (Luke 13:3, 17:30), confess (Matt. 10:32-33, Acts 8:37), be baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, 1 Pet. 3:21, Gal. 3:27), remain faithful until death (Rev. 2:10).
One of the greatest areas of neglect among members of the Lord’s church is seen in a failure to study God’s word as they should and thus they starve for spiritual food. Far too many rely on a 35-40 minute sermon by a preacher once a week to feed them spiritually for a week. To hear someone who has just become a new creature in Christ say, “I don’t know much about the Bible” is one thing but to hear someone who was baptized into Christ 10, 20, 30 or more years ago say that, makes my blood run cold. We are told by Peter to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ so we will not be carried away by the error of men (2 Pet. 2:17-18). Paul admonishes us to study to show ourselves approved (2 Tim. 2:15). Peter tells us that like newborn babies we should long for the pure milk of the word so that by it we may grow in respect to salvation (1 Pet. 2:2). Through Hosea, God says, my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). Do not starve spiritually because of a lack of spiritual food.
Yet another area of neglect that affects many is seen in a failure to be actively involved (James 1:22, 1 Cor. 15:58, Titus 3:1). I am a branch in Christ the vine (John 15:5). I cannot get by on the fact that other branches are fruitful and neither can you. I am a stone in the building (1 Peter 2:5) and I cannot get by on the fact that the other stones fit in their place and do their work well in supporting the church while I do not and neither can you. We must be a candle on the candlestick personally letting our light shine before men (Matt. 5:14-16, Phil. 2:14-15). If we neglect our responsibilities, if we fail to let our light shine, if we do not bear fruit, the chances are great that we will become lukewarm, indifferent and lose our souls.
May we ever be on guard against the sin of neglect. To God be the glory forever and ever!
Charles Hicks, Gallatin Tennessee
