“Preeminent: A Destiny for Drifters”

(Hebrews 1:1-4)

Drifter or Pioneer

When you think of a hobo, what comes to your mind?

Like a hobo a pioneer traveled much. But, what is the difference between a hobo and a

pioneer? A pioneer journeyed to create a new home. Because a hobo leaves behind any sense

of “home” he has nowhere to which to travel. He has no destiny but wandering.

The book of Hebrews is written to believers who are drifting or who are potential

drifters. I believe that’s each of us. I’ve been a pastor for over two decades and have seen

many people do some really crazy things all because they thought it would make them happy.

The pursuit of joy is not wrong. It is created by God in us.

In his commentary on Hebrews the ancient Puritan author John Owen claims that God

designed us to enjoy Him and His glory. Before sin we are “destitute of nothing that was any

way requisite to carry us on unto the further enjoyment of God whereunto we were designed.”

The ancient king named Solomon known for his immense wealth, popularity and

wisdom chucked his faith in God out of hope to find real pleasure apart from the Creator. He

enjoyed everything imaginable from money, to literature, to art, to books, to music, to women

of all shapes, sizes and personalities, to various sorts of erotic romance—sometimes devoted

and other times casual, but came to this fascinating conclusion. “I have found only this, that

God made men upright (with the capacity and posture to experience profound joy), but they

have sought out many devices” (Ecclesiastes 7:29).

We’re surrounded by people who drift away from God in the name of happiness. Men

and women, Mary Jane and I went to Bible College with have not only left the ministry, but

aren’t even walking with God still.

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 For me, the temptation to drift away is more than a theoretical postulate described by a

young, inexperienced seminarian. Not only do I constantly face the challenge to endure, but

there have been three times in my life, that a disappointment was so profoundly felt, I was sure

anywhere else than the middle of God’s plan and placement of us would be a better place.

Haven’t you felt that way before? Let’s be honest. Haven’t the fiery darts of unbelief assailed

your soul more than once? Aren’t you as easily derailed as the rest of us?

The study of and love for Hebrews has stirred in me a deep and profound honesty about

the frail cords which bind me to God; it’s given me a realistic perspective on that same

propensity in you; and it has transformed my understanding of endurance’s basis away from my

own strength towards the utter, absolute, almighty power of God.

Why are we prone to wander?

If we do not consider Christ as preeminent, we will drift away (2:1-4).

If we do not believe Him deeply, we will always be restless (3:7-19).

If we do not grow deeper in His Word, we will become dull of hearing and fall away

(5:11-6:12).

If we do not remain steadfast as a lifelong pursuit, we will face discipline that hurts like

judgment and shrink away (10:19-39).

If we do not long for Him above all, we will waste our life on “shakable” things which

won’t last (12:14-29).

What is the difference between “prominence” and “preeminence”?

Prominent: The favorite among many.

Preeminent: The only one.

Or, it might be helpful to think of it another way. If I said to my wife, “Honey, you are

my favorite woman. Though there be many, I love you most” the impact would be quite

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different from another affirmation. “Honey, I love you. You are the one and only woman for

me.” The first is prominence. The second is not only safer but speaks of preeminence.

Which is your lifestyle, your values, your hopes, your ambitions, your relationships

saying to Jesus?

What does drifting look like (2:1)?

There is an undeniable connection between our drifting with our inability or

unwillingness to see, relate to and consider Christ as preeminent. The word “more closely

consider” is a combination term which is intensely emphatic. You could translate it “furiously

obsess over.” Strong’s concordance defines the two words as “superabundantly” and “hold the

mind” respectively. That is to say that drifting is anything less than that. We all drift. And, we

drift by virtue of small distractions. Jesus as “prominent” means I think about Him sometimes.

Jesus as “preeminent” means He is the center of my life every day in every way.

How does Jesus’ preeminence give drifters a destination?

By speaking about God as God to us (1:1-4). The Bible often makes these monumental

statements meant to be big ideas around which we tie our belief system. They are the “stuff” of

our faith. Genesis 1:1 declares, “In the beginning God created”—a big idea! “For God so loved

the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16)—another big idea! Hebrews 1:1 is a

big idea. “God…spoke long ago…and has spoken to us in His Son.”

 God is a missionary whose mission is to reveal Himself to us. A missionary is a person

who has a divine mission in their life—something all Jesus followers have. God is a

missionary. He is on a mission to reveal Himself to us and He has been on that mission

ever since creation. Nature itself shows us about God. “For ye shall go out with joy, and

be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into

singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands” (Isaiah 55:12).

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 God has been speaking His Word for thousands of years as the Bible. As wondrous of a

revelation as nature may be we need more. “Lo, these are but the outskirts of His ways;

and how small a whisper do we hear of Him” (Job 26:4)!

 God reveals His Word as a specific truth through all epochs and in many ways. Revealing

Himself and His glory has always been God’s constant ever-vigilant mission.

 God’s revelation moves from promise to fulfillment.

 Jesus is God’s Word to us.

 Jesus is the heir of all creation. Romans 8 adds that since Jesus is the heir of all creation,

and because we are adopted by the Father into His family, we are made joint-heirs.

When you’re tempted to drift, remember that you are becoming a prodigal who

squanders his inheritance mistaking license for freedom.

 Jesus is the reason everything is created.

 Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory reaching creation and shining into the hearts of

people. Marvin Vincent, linguistic scholar from Union Theological Seminary, said that

Christ as the “radiance of God’s glory” means he is the “unfolded fullness of the divine

perfections.” In other words, Jesus is an utterly complete, uncovered display of God in

His glory.

 Jesus is the exact essence of the Father’s character. One of the Ten Commandments is

for us to not attempt an engraved image of God. Why not? Because, “You cannot see

the whole form of God” and any attempt on our part to imagine God ourselves will

inevitably not only fall short of God but will “corrupt yourselves” by making “a graven

image…in the likeness of man or woman” (Deuteronomy 4:15-16). In other words, Jesus

is the exact essence of Father’s image. He is the God in flesh we could never make

ourselves into. He is what we cannot be, but need to find—God with flesh and blood.

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 Jesus is the Word which holds everything together and moves it towards its final

destiny. All creation in Christ has its existence and consistence. “From the rising of the

sun, to the going down of the same, the Lord’s name is to be praised” (Psalm 113:3).

The repetitious monotony of creation is a display of the energy of Christ. My little ones

love playing “horse” on my knee. But, daddy’s leg soon wears out and the repetition

which quickly exhausts me is but a signal for their appetite for more—“Do it again,

Daddy!” Likewise, the myriad of repetitious patterns of creation convey not divine

distance but incredible and endless energy of the Creator. More than that, it is a reason

to applaud Him. G. K. Chesterton called it the “theatrical encore” of God.

 Jesus made purification for our sins. Pastor and hymn-writer, Chris Anderson’s newest

song reads, “I cling to Christ, and marvel at the cost: Jesus forsaken, God estranged

from God. Bought by such love, my life is not my own: My praise—my all—shall be for

Christ alone.” Imagine that—“God estranged from God.” If I see my kid playing on the

busy street and a vehicle is barreling down the road at them, I’m jumping in and eating

the car to save their life. Jesus sacrificed Himself by eating the inevitable on-rush of

divine wrath against our sin. Even more phenomenal is that He laid His life down for

people who reject Him. They mock the notion thinking it is too ridiculous. Or those of

us, who know better, treat it with complacency devaluing its significance in our life and

act as if the price was not great enough to purchase our allegiance. Instead, we loan

ourselves to help Him a little every now and then.

 Jesus is the splendor and power of God’s majesty. That Christ has “sat down at the right

hand of His majesty” (nose-bleed theology which is high and lofty) is a more privileged

honor than angels who worship in the throne room. “Right arm” was a monarchial

expression indicating a shared authority deserving of equal glory as the king. It speaks

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 of both splendor and power. Psalm 110 records King David’s song linking a joint “God-

ness” to the Father and the Son: “The Lord says to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I

make thine enemies a footstool to thy feet’” (v.1).

Pilgrim and Ignorance

Pilgrim’s Progress is an allegorical tale written by John Bunyan and is not dissimilar to C.

S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. The story follows the main character and his travelling companions

all in search of the Celestial City. Pilgrim’s companion Ignorance begins to express his

confidence of gaining entrance to Heaven on the basis of his own goodness. He reasons that

God will justify him “through his gracious acceptance of my obedience.”

Pilgrim argues of the free merits of God’s grace. “Thou believest with a fantastical and

false faith. Such a faith takes justification away from Christ. Thy faith makes Christ a justifier of

thy actions. This faith is deceitful.” Then he concludes, “I saw there was a gate to hell from the

very entrance of heaven.”

Our drifting is always a result of faith in ourselves, our own reasoning. Remember 1

Corinthians 3:18, “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in

this age let him become foolish that he may become wise.”

My hope is that you’ll give up any religious façade and get help. Celebrate Recovery or

Financial Peace U or marriage counseling—but get help.