Claws Of Addiction
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I have often told people not to leave purses, bags or other attractive objects in view when leaving a car; not even for a brief period. My reason is:
“Some addict who desperately needs some coins, would be motivated to break into the car, causing damages that might be more expensive than even the object that attracted them.”
This might sound like I know addicts, but after taking a course on addictions recently, I realized I had no clue what addicts go through. While the path to addiction is a conscious choice, most people have no clue what the destination looks like. Initially, you make the choice to abuse the substance, including alcohol; but when addicted, the substance makes the choice for you!
Two things sadden me about addictions:
First is the general lack of education, and the understanding that:
- SUBSTANCE ABUSE and SUBSTANCE ADDICTION are very, very different. Although ABUSE leads to ADDICTION, there is a very thin line between them. So thin that most people don’t notice till it becomes fatal.
- Those who ABUSE SUBSTANCE are conscious of what they are doing and may help themselves; but those who are ADDICTED are not conscious of what is happening and need PROFESSIONAL HELP.
- Most CHEMICAL ADDICTIONS, including alcohol addiction, ultimately lead to convulsions, organ failures and death.
- A very simple test of ADDICTION is to check if it is affecting the NORMAL FUNCTIONING (what the person usually does) -e.g. You ask, “Is it affecting the person’s SCHOOLING, JOB, FAMILY LIFE, SPIRITUIAL LIFE, SOCIAL LIFE etc.?”
- ADDICTS are not clowns, or funny people! On the contrary, they are VERY SICK, and may die!
- There is A LOT OF HELP available for ADDICTS; and many do recover!
- RECOVERED ADDICTS can actually go back to normal life, WORK, SCHOOL, etc. But they also need a lot of support, tenderness and care; because they can easily RELAPSE (fall back into addiction!)
- According to the American Medical Association (AMA), ADDICTION is a disease, just like HIV and Tuberculosis; and needs to be treated just like those.
Second is the gross lack of commitment to making resources available to prevent drug and alcohol use, and addictions; but spending billions in clearing up their aftermaths!
To wrap it all up, addiction is like a very deep abyss; where you need a TRAINED PERSON to give you a long rope, in order to get out! Without that rope, you are doomed; unless God intervenes in a supernatural way!
For an addict who got out, what would probably be on the mind would be the fourth stanza of Methodist Hymn 371 (GBH 147) which says:
“Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.“
Addiction is like shackles on your feet. You need someone, a professional, to free you!
I am happy about one thing; that God does not give up on addicts. Their families and friends often blame them for their predicament, and give up on them. But God does not!
God loves them, and values their souls, just as He values the souls of the rest of us. His grace is available to all.
We are all sinners, saved by grace. If we believe we are saved by grace, then we need to extend the same grace to those who have been caught in the claws of addiction.
MEMORY VERSE
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
(Ephesians 2:8)
QUESTIONS
- Do you know anyone whose addictions threaten or affect their normal functioning?
- Do you know that they need professional help, and there is a lot of it available?
PRAYER TIP
Father, help me view addicts
differently; as deserving of
your grace just as I am.
In Jesus' name.
URGENT CALL
Every soul is valuable to God, far more than the entire world! But by nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God, and we ultimately face his wrath!
God in His mercy and love made a way for us to remedy this. He gives us a chance to reverse this downward spiral to destruction, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.
The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved.
Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.
It is a very personal decision. No one can make that decision for you.
If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God! A soul, much, much more valuable than the world, has been saved from destruction!
Do you want to make that decision today?
Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer”
for guidance if you want
to make that decision.
We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page, or the ones at the top of this page. Don’t delay. Make this very personal decision today!
God richly bless you
SPECIAL GRATITUDE
Thank you for visiting the Testimony Devotional Website.
We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.
We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.
God richly bless you.
The Testimony Devotional website addresses are:
Evelyn
Blessings