Have you ever known someone who has injured their body, on purpose?
Have you even known someone who starves themselves to the point of barely being able to function? Or eats, only to later rid themselves of that nourishment?
Have you ever known someone who was addicted to the lusts of the flesh?
Have you ever known someone who was under the bondage of drugs, cigarettes, or alcohol?
Have you known someone who can't seem to give up gambling?
It's likely you have known, or still do know someone who struggles with one, or several of these sinful addictions. Or, maybe it's YOU!
Proverbs 10:28 and 29 states:
" The hope of the righteous will be gladness,
But the expectation of the wicked will perish.
The way of the LORD is strength for the upright,
But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity. "
and I Timothy 6:9 states:
"But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare,
and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men
in destruction and perdition."
You see, I have come to learn that in almost ALL of those addictions I have listed, people do not set out to become addicted to these behaviors. They usually begin them "innocently" enough, but it is never quite so innocent. Someone may begin drinking because they are trying to escape a stressful hardship. They may begin skipping meals because no man would ever think they were attractive if they weren't as thin as Kate Moss. They may cut themselves once because they feel the physical pain is easier to tolerate that then inward, hidden pain. They invite the addictions that come with the lust of the flesh because they want to satisfy themselves. You see, all of these scenarios did not begin innocently. They began when someone turned their back to the Lover of their Souls.
In the book of Revelation, John accuses the Christians at the church of Ephesus in chapter 2 with turning from their first love, the Lord. We are commanded in Mark 12 (and other places), to love the Lord, our God.
I John 4:18-20 states that we love Him because He first loves us. You see, He was, and IS our first love.
Addictions are bred from a selfishness which has turned its back against the Creator, the One True God, and original Lover of our souls. In order to break an addiction a person does not need to understand their weakness. They need to come to a place of acknowledgment of their own sinfulness against a Holy God.
Sound pretty harsh?
You see, I feel the liberty to speak as such, because I was once there. I was under the bondage of anorexia, of self-mutilation, and of alcohol and drugs.
I have the scars to prove my own painful and addictive past. At the age of 12, I began skipping meals on a regular basis. At one point, I was allowing myself one 4-oz.jar of baby food for each meal. When others began hammering me about not eating, I began to eat, but then forced myself to throw up after meals. I repeated these behaviors for over 8 years. My lowest weight was 87 pounds the summer between high school and college. I ended up in the hospital and going through treatment for anorexia and bulimia while still in college.
I took my first alcoholic drink when I was 14 years old. At the time, I was "dating" a 28 year old man. He offered it to me where he was living, above a bar. Throughout high school, I kept a bottle of vodka under my mattress at home and drank a swig every morning before going to school. I would fill a water bottle full of vodka and sip it throughout the school day. About that same time, I began dealing with some very painful emotions in my life. I tried marijuana (we called it "hemp" then) and a drug called ecstasy. I turned to cutting myself and burning myself with matches during some of the most painful times. Regrettably, I have the physical scars today of the sins of my youth. I don't know what made me even THINK to start something like that. I never saw anyone else do it... I just began doing it one day while listening to my favorite heavy metal-alternative band.
Thankfully, the Lord led me to a wonderful Christian Nouthetic Counselor who did not allow me to blame my family, my circumstance, or my emotions on my sinful behaviors.
You see, to some, my addictions began "innocently" enough... but I know better than that. I know that had I turned to the Lord, had I not desired the things of this world... I would not have snared myself in the trap of sinful addictions. Not only did sin snare me, but it also was the continuing feeding force behind those addictions.
I have also walked through the path with close family members who were addicted to the lusts of their flesh, self-gratification and of pornography. I have experienced the pain first hand and have also heard the heart wrenching cries of others to remind me that no one is immune.
However, There is Hope.
In Jeremiah 33, the Lord says "Call unto me, and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not."
Psalm 46 says, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
In the gospels of Matthew and Luke, the Lord Jesus gives an example of how we should pray, and in it, he asks the Father to deliver us from evil.
The Lord is the ONLY one who can break the bondages of sinful addiction, and HE is the only one who can restore hearts to Himself.
Psalm 23 (excerpt)
"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."
Do you know what is interesting? The shepherds rod and staff were not only used for leading, but also for fighting off evil, and for correction when a sheep would begin to wander astray.
And he WANTS to restore your heart, if your desire is to turn to Him.
2nd Corinthians 12:9
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
The Lord has brought me out of my own sinful addictions. They did not occur overnight, nor without His help, guidance, correction and Love. The Lord is faithful. He was faithful to me, and if you draw nigh unto Him, he will draw nigh unto you,and show you His faithfulness and love.
James 4:7,8
"Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts,
ye double minded."
May the Lord bless you,
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