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Dead Man Walking
let them lead me...
Psalm 43:3
Actually, about the only time drugs are used "just one time" are the occasions when a first-timer dies from an overdose or drug poisoning. The first time almost always leads to the second and third until you've lost count and you're in, 'way over your head.
You see, we live in fear of the unknown. When we do something for the first time, we are somewhat fearful of what's going to happen. When nothing "bad" happens, when lightning doesn't drop us in our tracks, we figure no damage was done, there was "no harm in it". That's the lie satan wants us to believe, and we do because it's new to us, it's the "in" thing, we're kickin' off the buzz or the high.
Lie #2: It's My Life--I'm Not Hurting Anybody
If you are a hermit 300 miles from the nearest living thing, were born without parents, never had any brothers or sisters, never met and made any friends and there's no possibility of you being around other people, then you're right: it is your life. What you do won't matter to another human being at all. But if you don't meet the above qualifications, you're going to be hurting someone. They are going to be affected by your actions: the lies you tell, the things you do to support your "there's-no-harm-in-it" habit. It is NOT just your life--it is also the lives of those who love you and care about what happens to you.
Lie #3: It's Free--It Won't Cost Me Anything
Sure it is. It's free until you get a good buzz from it and you want more--then it's going to cost you ALL you ever hoped to have. It won't matter what lies you have to tell OR who you have to steal from, you will do whatever it takes to get it. Let me tell you what the quality of your life will become: counting your misdemeanors and weighing them against your felonies! And, remembering which jail is worse than the others and "trying" to not get caught in that county. That's the cost of the "high" life. Free, huh?
Lie #4: So? Who's Going To Know?
Everyone! Anyone you come in contact with will know. The tell-tale signs are all there, whether everyone recognizes them or not. The folks who truly want to care about you aren't going to want to put up with what you do or say to them. Those who will tolerate your presence are the same ones who see to it that you keep getting what's keeping you from those who truly love you and don't want you being that way. I want you to understand something very clearly about your druggie friends: you will be their "friend" and allowed to participate in their group activities ONLY as long as you can contribute to the general "welfare", however degrading your activities have to become.
Lie #5: I Can Control It--It Won't Get A Hold On Me
Then you are indeed a medical wonder and need to be featured in next month's American Medical Journal. There's not a day goes by you can't find an item on the news or in the papers about someone (some are very well known) who has succumbed to the effects of drug addiction. For it to be "free", it costs them everything they have: their families, their relationships, their dignity, their freedom, their prestige, their finances, their material possessions. Dreams are dashed, careers are side-tracked or destroyed, and people lose their lives every day because the control was reversed. You won't be able to control it--it WILL control you! Drug use will drive you to do things that would never have occurred to you, had you not been set on satisfying that craving.
Lie #6: I Won't Do Hard Drugs--No Trouble Then
ANY type of addiction will DRIVE you. Now read that again: ANY type of addiction will drive you--to do things you wouldn't otherwise do. It does not matter if you are ingesting a drug by drinking, popping, smoking, sniffing or injecting. Perhaps you are bound by another type of addiction. I want you to know: WHATEVER has you in its grip is an ADDICTION! You WILL HAVE TO FEED that addiction--it WILL drive you. Addiction will take you further, hold you longer, and cost you more than you ever thought possible!
I, too, fell for the BIG lie satan uses: that marijuana is organic and thus it's safe. What a joke on me! It's just an open door to other bad habits and other addictions, especially when it alone no longer provides the "escape" you need. That escape is only temporary. You cannot escape reality. It will be dealt with now or later. I can assure you, when it's later, it's much harsher.
Lie #7: Those Things Happen To Other People--NOT ME!
This HAS TO BE the biggest lie Satan perpetuates among people about addictions: NOT ME! Get a grip on this, right now: to someone else, YOU are the OTHER person! I want to make it very clear to you: EVERYTHING has a price. Everything. Nothing is free. Can you truly afford to pay it? Do you really want to give up what it's going to cost you, not to mention those around you, those who care for you? I promise you, it will cost you everything that ever mattered in your life!
When I chose to not heed the warnings of those who loved and cared about me, I chose to give up control of my life. I surrendered control of my life--my daily life--to those who told me when to wake up, when to eat, when to change clothes, when to take a shower, when to go to this room or that room, what I could eat, what I could read, what I could watch, what I could say, to whom I could say it... free, huh? You see any freedom in there?
When someone asked me as a child what I wanted to be when I grew up, I never once answered, "A drug addict," or "A pot head". This was not how I had planned to live my life, yet it was reality. I didn't even have control of my life which was out of control anyway. The decisions I made forced me to give up control of my life to others. They don't invite you to picnics, they don't bake hot biscuits or home-made pizza, they don't hug you close and tell you how precious you are. So much for the "there's-no-harm-in-it" theory!
Yeah, I was having a high ole' time till payday arrived. Even now, it's hard for me to believe some of the things I was told I did: swapping car tags, shoplifting, stealing gas, stealing from my own mother who loved me dearly, from my little sister who adored me, from friends who had taken me in out of compassion and been good to me. Yeah, so much for my "control".
Addiction to drugs and the drug-induced lifestyle drove me to sink progressively deeper into crime--I didn't care who I hurt. I didn't care that I placed my family in danger many times from my sorry dealings with others like me.
I thank God every day that Mama loved me enough to step back and hand me over to God. He stopped me before I could kill myself or someone else. And let me add this--His ways may be perfect, but they are not necessarily gentle. He allowed me to be put in a place where I had to face who and what I had become, along with facing the responsibility for all that I had done. But you see, He also extended mercy.
Let me share this with you: A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself... Luke 15:11-17.
"And when he came to himself..." When I came to myself... Yes, when my mind cleared of the drugs, when I finally got past the cravings, the harsh realization of what I had done and what I was facing for it was nearly more than I could handle. Free? No, not free--I paid a high price, one far above what my "there's-no-harm-in-it" lifestyle was worth.
Jesus Christ has forgiven me of my sins, I have been made a new creature in Christ, but there is still regret for so many wasted years. Even so, those regrets are positive agents in my life--they serve to keep me from returning to that lifestyle. My freedom and everyday responsibilities have become far too important for me to risk!
If you find yourself caught up in the lies of satan, such as I was, you can turn it around. Yes, you can, but YOU have to want to. And turning it around will cost you, too. It will mean hard work on your part. Your friends, your family cannot do it for you. The determination has to come from YOU and you alone.
I challenge you to live life to its fullest...SOBER...for Jesus, for you, for those you love and who love you.
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than I could reach up!
"Lost and Found" by Eric Hollander
Used by permission from Art of the Covenant
Your First Step To Recovery On the other hand, without your admission of guilt, without your acknowledgement that Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son, without your acceptance of Him as your personal Savior, you cannot enter into eternal rest with Him. There is no deed, however great, that will earn you admittance into eternal life.
Perhaps these are your questions:
Why now? Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away. James 4:14.
Why do I need God? For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23.
What do I get out of this? For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23.
How do I know this is true? For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:16,17.
I've done too much. He won't forgive me. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13. Now read that again: did you see that word, "Whosoever"? For WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. No specifications, other than WHOSOEVER.
What do I need to do? That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9,10. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1st John 1:9.
Jesus, I believe that You are the Only Begotten Son of God. I believe that You died and rose again for the forgiveness of my sins. I ask You to forgive me of all the sins in my life. Come into my heart and make me a new creature in You, Jesus, that I might have eternal life in You. Thank You, Jesus, for taking away my sins. I accept You as my Savior and Lord.
Is it done? Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2nd Corinthians 5:17. Now read that again: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
If you are currently attending church, or if you've never darkened the door of one before, after you have taken this all-important first step, I strongly urge you to find a church that will welcome you; a church that teaches Biblical truth--a church where you can receive Godly counsel and encouragement.
May God richly bless you, as you go forth in your new life with Him.
If you have been blessed, give God the Glory!
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