One Who Came

Psalm 119:3
They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in His paths.

Seven O'clock rolled around last night, and I was sitting in the chapel at Rapha. It was time for Bible Study. I use the term Bible Study because I don't really know what to call it. Some nights we do delve into the Scripture, but some nights we spend time praying. There have been times where it becomes a question and answer session. In those times, I let the guys know right quick that I do not know all the answers to their questions, but I do know someone who does.

The one thing I love about going out to Rapha for this meeting is that you never know how many will show up. I've had a many as fifteen and as few as zero. No matter how many comes, I'm going to have a time with God, even if it's just me. Some may look at such as wasted time if no one comes to the study, but how can it be wasted if I'm spending time with God.

So as the time to begin rolled around, one man walked through the door. Tonight it was about "THE ONE". The one who needed a time where he could unload his personal junk and draw closer to this God he'd heard about. His story was not unlike others I've talked with during my years of serving in recovery. He'd grown up in the church, even declared that he loved going to church. He loved reading his bible. He genuinely loved God. But when the teen-age years rolled around, the world flashed it's shiny smile at him, offering him empty promises and "FUN!" He looked at the church, at the world, at the church, at the world.........the world won. It had hooked him and drawn him into the darkness. The man shared with me that he knew he was doing wrong...that he was walking away from the God he had loved, but he didn't care. He wanted to have that proverbial fun the world so cleverly packages to sell as a bill of goods.

He had fun alright...
Every week end there was more fun than a body can stand.
As with any empty promise that addiction offers...the fun began to change. Each encounter with the darkness became less and less fun, and more and more like misery. What had once been the vehicle to fun (His using) was now a runaway train he chose to ride upon simply to feel normal. Deeper and deeper he went, and darker and darker life became. But then there was that one lucid moment that came to him. Like the prodigal son, he "When no one would give him anything, he came to his senses." 

God, who he thought was nowhere to be found, answered his cry for help. Laid hold of this man and lifted him up above the muck and mire to a place of healing. Does this mean that he no longer struggles with daily life. No..far from it. This man is now in the process of dealing with, and taking care of all the destruction he created along his dark path. But does so daily with the knowledge and understanding that God will direct him in the way he needs to go.

As the meeting came to an end, the man confessed to me that he struggles with pride, the thought of humbling himself, as well as fear of the future. If you would, please join me in praying for this person. That he would continue on this new upward journey with Christ. This man has a renewed love for Jesus and for the call that he knows is upon him to be the man God created him to be. Not the addict that cowered in the darkness, trying to hide from God.
We prayed...
We hugged each other....
We made our way out of the chapel...
As I closed the door behind me, I looked back into the room and prayed.."God thank you for the one."

God on you...
mbb