October 2008 - Beyond Addiction

10/01/2008

During our traveling, Vic and I find lots of opportunities for the Lord to work through us in the lives of others. I sometimes have the privilege of speaking to men and women who have been or are currently in rehabilitation programs...

During our traveling, Vic and I find lots of opportunities for the Lord to work through us in the lives of others. I sometimes have the privilege of speaking to men and women who have been or are currently in rehabilitation programs. Somewhere in their lives they made poor choices. I certainly can relate to them because I made some horrible choices that not only affected me but my entire family. I tell them how at one time my life was controlled by addictions and each day I could feel the control getting more and more powerful.

As I am sharing these truths, I look at them and can see that some will make it beyond addiction and others won’t. Why is this? Because rising up from being controlled to becoming the controller is my choice. I don’t say it’ll be easy, but it’s possible and it’s a choice. I tell them God gave every person a free will to choose or not to choose Him. I turned my life over to the Lord Jesus Christ years ago, but I still have to make choices every day of who’s going to be boss—me or God? It’s my choice. Do I do things my way or do I submit to God and His ways? What I decide today will determine my tomorrow. Sadly, if children are involved, these decisions also determine the children’s tomorrow.

How wonderful it is to be able to share with them that God loves them so much that He gave His Son Jesus to save them from their sins. That they can choose eternal life that begins the moment they believe! Now that’s Good News! (John 3:16) If they choose to follow the Lord, they have a huge purpose and position in the plan of God for this world. Sometimes they ask me what purpose? What position? By choosing the Lord they become positioned in the Kingdom of God with eternal life where Jesus is King. He’s now on their side. Their purpose is to love God first, and then to reach out to others who are hurting because of their poor choices. Tell people they too can be reconciled to their creator. When I learned this unchangeable truth while living in this very changeable world, it changed my whole life.

Before we can confidently tell others about God’s purposes, we need to remember two things:

• We must first be very confident of who Jesus is. Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” and I believe He is still asking us the same question today. Is He Lord over every decision, every choice we make?
  

Scripture tells us that one day every knee shall bow to Jesus’ kingship. He is our everything, He has everything under His authority, and we represent that authority. If you need healing in your spirit or body, He has accomplished that for you on the cross. If you need finances, He is your provider. If you need hope, He is your hope. If you need wisdom, He is wisdom. If you need…….. He is whatever you need and He is all you need!

• We must have our mind renewed by the word of God. The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 that the world has a way for us to think. We know that by looking at the movies, TV and all the ads. It’s all trying to get us to think the world’s negative ways. But God says that our minds are to come in line with what He says. We can’t do that outside the Bible. We must bring every decision to God’s authority.
  

We are living in very tough times. We who have been reconciled to God need to rise up with boldness and tell people about the wonderful choice they can make for Jesus. He will help them through their todays and their tomorrows.