Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.
Romans 6:21
What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
It's like standing by the side of a railroad track watching a speeding train headed your way, and you know that it is going to wreck.
You wave your arms....
You scream at the top of your voice....
Yet you know there isn't anything you can do to stop it.
Welcome to the wonderful world of addiction.
We see the mind of man, under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, driven by a sin nature, make choice after choice that defy human logic.
Running head long toward destruction with a heart filled with pride and a "Can't no one tell me what to do!" attitude. And they are right.
Sometimes it takes a personal encounter with the living God to make them see the truth. Sometimes that encounter comes in a form that most would not recognize. God's Spirit opening the heart and mind to the truth about where they are headed. That sudden moment where thoughts become lucid and move beyond the effects of the drug or alcohol. Where the state of the current condition is truly realized. "I am Powerless!"
For most who follow the Twelve Steps, they don't really believe that they will encounter a Higher Power until they reach Step #3. Truth be known, our Higher Power, Jesus, opens us to receive the truth. So why doesn't everyone who comes to this knowledge of being powerless move on in their recovery and have a normal life free of drugs and alcohol? If I could answer that one, I'd be a rich man. I don't know. I think maybe it has something to do with free will, and who you give yourselves to.
I just know that if we aren't brought to the truth about who Jesus is, and what He can do in any life, then the course is the same. We are headed toward the finality of life. Here again, everyone of us is headed toward that junction point. But when we finally reach that point, every decision we have made during our life will be sealed forever, and we will cross over into eternity. That means that if you've lived your life rejecting Jesus, then that will carry over and you will be forever separated from Him....from life....from joy....in other words, you will find out the truth about hell.
Time and time again, I have heard others say, "Well, you know what? I could never believe in a God who sends people to hell." Me either. I could never love, follow, or believe in a God that would let people plunge into eternity without Him. And I'm glad that such a God does not exist. God expends Himself on loving people to Himself. He gave the ultimate price to see our salvation made available. He allowed His own Son, Jesus, to take our place, pay the price of our sin, so that we could have relationship with Him forever. We are the ones who push His offer away. We are the ones who reject anything to do with Him. We are the ones who choose to run headlong toward our destruction, as Mark Heard sang, "We ride our passions with the throttle in our hands".
If you are struggling with any form of addiction today, and you have read this posting, then give pause to think on what you've just read.
What if it were true?
What if Jesus, and relationship with Him were the answer to all the darkness you are going through?
Then cry out to Him....
Tell Him that you are ready to change...
Confess your wrongs....take responsibility for them...
Tell Him you are willing to follow Him....to learn to listen for His leading you, and that you are willing to do it.
Ask Him to fill you inside with His Spirit.....
And then simply believe that what you have just done is real and true.......
Now you're ready for real life....
God on you...
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