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Many of you cannot relate to this true story, about choosing the rut. This goes back to the days before asphalt or cement roads, when men were called on to work dirt roads without pay in their section of the county. No, I am not that old, but both my granddad's who lived in Shelby County had to work on the county roads. I heard Granddaddy Moore tell about how deep the old wagon wheels cut ruts in the road during the winter months, and the occasional car could get in the rut and turn the steering wheel lose; and it was almost impossible to get out of the rut. Keep these thoughts in mind as we continue.

What is the greatest danger we face today? We have reason to believe that we could be the victim of a nuclear war - there is the harrow of a dreaded disease, or a heart attack. There is always the threat of a fatal car accident. Yes, any of these tragic things could befall us. I believe the answer is found in Hebrews 2: 1-4. Notice how many times the word "we" is used. We face a greater danger - our drifting away from the path of spiritual progress and duty toward God. We must "Choose Our Rut Carefully."

Too many Christians today take the Word of God for granted and neglect it. In my pastoral ministry, I discovered that neglect of the Word of God and prayer is the cause of most "spiritual drifting;" we get in the rut and turn lose the steering wheel. Neglect in any area of life is tragic, but in the Spirit realm, hearing the Gospel message and doing nothing about it is most tragic.

I don't know who wrote this, but it warns against the peril of drifting. "It is easy to drift with the current swift; Just lie in the boat and dream. But in nature's plan, it takes a real man, to paddle the boat upstream." Why do we drift? First of all there is the built in tendency to sin. Paul wrote (Gal. 5:17): "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other, so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."

Many drift because they neglect the means of growth. Some fail to recognize that conversion produces a spiritual infant. There must be Bible study - communion with God through prayer - fellowship with God's people in the church. The danger here is drifting through neglect. "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation...V.3." Notice, it does not say, "How shall sinners escape if they reject," BUT, "How shall we (believers) escape if we neglect."

Sin in the life of a Christian is different from sin in the lives of other people - "it's worse!" We have the idea that believers today "under grace" can escape the chastening hand of God that was so evident "under law." But to whom much is given, much shall be required. If you are a drifting disciple - in a rut, you would be wise to rededicate your life and begin doing the things that would please God and delight the inner man.