Neglecting Such a Great Salvation

A couple months ago I purchased a mint plant kit from the store. I’m not a “plant guy” and I’ve never kept up with having my own produce but I thought it’d be something I would try. It has grown a fair amount, but remains rather unimpressive considering the timeframe it has had to grow. This is, in part, due to my negligence of watering it and tending it. Obviously there are many parallels that we can make from my experience and our spiritual lives, but I seek to only make one observation.

The plant is still alive, though it is not yielding produce like I thought it would. Since I have forgotten (more than once) to water it, the conditions haven’t been optimal for it to flourish despite receiving enough sunlight and remaining out of harm’s way. I have neglected my mint plant and as a result, it remains merely “present.”

The Hebrew writer states, “For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” In one verse prior, he warned of the reality that we can begin fading away from this incredible message. But his main point is clear; the great salvation is not to be neglected.

We may find various moments to “water” our salvation here and there, we may keep it out of harm’s way, and allow it to get enough sun light, but is our salvation yielding produce and becoming impressive among the world? For the early apostles and disciples, this great salvation was the core of who they were. When God’s message becomes more centric in our life, it takes on a responsibility that demands constant attention and nourishment. We would do good to remind ourselves of the writer’s admonition, “we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it” (2:1).