Yesterday I along with pastor Kenny Munds visited a young man in the hospital who very nearly died from drinking enormous amounts of alcohol in a short period of time. By all accounts his recovery was miraculous and the doctor told him that for some reason God had spared him, and that he should make the most out of his second chance, because if another episode like this one transpired he would not survive.
Kenny played his guitar and sang several songs and it was obvious that this young man enjoyed every minute of it. We both shared our experience with addictions and how we were able to overcome them and encouraged him to follow suite. Kenny went the rehab, A.A. and Celebration Recovery route. I went the “I want to change my life” route and just quit on my own by immersing myself in the Bible combined with sheer determination to turn my life around. We both however, told this young man that without Jesus Christ in our lives, neither of us could have ever been free from our addictions.
The Jesus phenomenon is well documented; non-faith based rehab centers have dismal success rates and the faith based ones have exceedingly high rates of success for those who go through the entire program. It is not a question of methodology or medical treatment.
Jesus Christ is the difference.
Hmmm . . . I‘ve noticed that this is no different than the rest of life. When we try and make it on our own apart from God invariably we fail. It is like that in our personal lives, careers, family life, and yes even our government. When we make Jesus the number one focus of our lives in any area, we enjoy blessings innumerable and success belongs to us.
There is a clear and present danger in trying to make it through this life independent of God. We simply cannot make it in God’s world by trying to stand on our own. My suggestion is to not even try. It’s useless.
Nowhere will it be more evident than on the Day of Judgment that all of mankind will eventually face. As for me, I want Jesus standing beside me acting as my advocate. When my sins are exposed He will say, “Wait a minute, the punishment for those crimes has already been paid. He belongs to me and no power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us”.
Whew! Thank you Jesus
So glad I don’t have to face life all alone.
Hebrews 8:12
And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”
January 14, 2016 – Click here to listen