Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Monday June 13, 2011

Most people who work with others who are attempting to break addictions know or will learn the hard way that the only event that will give lasting relief from said addictions is a serious life crisis.

To further complicate the journey, sometimes a life crisis will drive the addict to deeper despair even to suicide. Beverley Sills wrote; "Addiction in any form is a substitute for something is that is missing." In life substitutes are never adequate for the real thing. Dr. Clyde Narramore noted that in his long years of experience that simple, old fashioned conversion to Christ in the true sense is "a life crisis." In today's climate the idea of "trying Jesus" fails to deal with the issue which is, "The end of one life and the entrance of a new one, the indwelling of Christ via the Holy Spirit."

In my limited experience I have lost track of the number of folks who were/are facing ruin due to the fact that they "tried Jesus" and are still shackled by the addictions of the old nature.

To explain further, most folks think of drugs, drink, or sexual addictions but fail to grasp the devastation also caused by addiction to power, the need to exercise ever more control over others as the destructive addiction it is in their own life and the life of the poor souls who for some reason submit to their addiction.

Paul talks to a group of people and assures us through his word to them, that the vilest of addictions can be broken and a rich satisfying life of service to Christ is in the journey's path. Note this in1 Corinthians 6:9-11:

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

The passage covers about every form of addiction I have ever heard of, yet Christ is presented as sufficient to wash the addiction away and enable to former addict to proceed in a life of peace and usefulness. Look at the list again and try to keep your shout moderate.

Dr. John R. Rice put it like this:

"No matter what a man's past may have been, his future remains spotless."

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2011 Use with credit

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