Free to choose

Lately I have been talking to some people with some heavy problems including several with drug and alcohol addictions, a homeless man who is living in his car with his young son, desperate for a job, people with serious problems in their relationships, and some that just cannot seem to make it in society and consequently are contemplating suicide etc. It is almost overwhelming just to read their letters and to speak with them on the phone. Imagine what it must be like to be living it

I try to encourage folks, but only God can give them peace. Speaking from experience it is difficult to muster much faith in someone telling you about God and that things will get better when faced with such trials. Nonetheless the Bible assures us that God is standing at the door of each of our hearts and awaiting an invitation to come into our lives and some will be receptive to that message when they hear and will indeed take advantage of it and be wonderfully saved. God can make it better and heal the broken-hearted and those who have a broken spirit can find a reason to go on. I can personally attest to that; however they must hear or read the word and then take that first step, and therein is the problem.

I talked at length with a young man yesterday who is addicted to pain killers. Already they are beginning to take a heavy toll on his life. He has been demoted at work and his life is beginning to become controlled by the drugs and he is falling apart. The drugs will increasingly dominate his life. I told him that addiction is a progressive disease and it would only get worse and if nothing is done, it will end up taking his life. I urged him to go to a faith based recovery center and sign up with AA or NA today, before it is too late.

He knows what must be done, but it is so very difficult to take that first step. When he gets home from work he can walk right down the street and get some drugs and within minutes his mind is swimming and his problems are momentarily forgotten. I told him that I know exactly what he is talking about. The drugs have a powerful hold on his life and the temptation to run to them every time something does not go his way to find a place to escape is almost unbearable; however a life with God is where he should go to seek freedom and the only way he will ever know peace or joy in his life. The story with addiction is that he will have to take more and more drugs and they will have less and less effect to the point that he will have to take dangerous amounts just to be able to bear it. Without them he will begin going into withdrawal and his body will be wracked with pain, vomiting, and misery.

Not everyone is hooked on drugs or alcoholism, but many have big problems that need God’s comfort. We as Christians should witness to those around us who are in need at every opportunity. Ultimately the decision is theirs and the Holy Spirit will convict them or not. Our job is simply to plant the seed. I sometimes feel awful that I cannot convince those around me to accept Christ as their Savior and I must remind myself that my job is limited to spreading the good news about Christ and the free salvation that comes from Him and that is it. The convincing must come from the Spirit of God convicting them and not from me. I must remind myself daily that not all will accept Christ, even when in God’s holy presence. Consider that when Jesus was on the cross between two thieves, one accepted Christ and one did not. One went on to “Paradise” and one is still suffering at this very moment; the choice was theirs and today is ours. I pray that you make the right decision and then spread the good news of Jesus Christ to as many people as will listen

Luke 23:43
And Jesus said to him, “As
surely as I say to you today you will
be with Me in “Paradise”.