For me I find nothing of value other than the work Jesus did on the Cross. It is because of that cross, that everything that the world has to offer is becoming less interesting, all the while the world becomes more agitated about what I am doing. Galatians 6:14 Neal’s Interpretation
One of the things I really have found is powerful in my Bible study time, is to make it personal.
Since my goal is to become Christ-like, and Paul is way ahead of me, then I believe that what Paul and others experienced in the Bible is for me also today. So, as I read I often find myself putting it in more personal language so that I can allow the Holy Spirit to change me from within.
This scripture in Galatians has really become a new reality to me lately. I went a long time quietly doing things and helping people, really without anyone noticing. However, I felt led to start posting about the research and training that I have received about Marijuana. That has brought some pretty loud resistance.
Really, I am not concerned about Marijuana any more than I am about any other substance that affects our brains. As a former abuser of alcohol I have seen firsthand the damage that drugs of any type do.
Let me give you an example. Tobacco has never caused anyone to drive intoxicated, or kill someone because it affected their thinking and choices. Truthfully for the most part, tobacco only affects the person using it, in a directly physical way. However, if you have ever been around someone that is addicted to any substance, including tobacco, and they are not able to get their “fix”, there will be hell to pay for everyone around them.
This is where it becomes a tough subject that many people may disagree with me on. By the way I am totally okay with people disagreeing with me.
Anytime, anything becomes my focus even for a minute, it is an idol and affects my relationship with God. I believe that if that substance affects my mind or does damage to my body, that puts it into a great category of concern but still an idol.
My problem with Marijuana, alcohol and any other substance that affects the mind is that it has a tendency to be used for the affect, which is to “relax”, “check out”, “get blasted”, “get stoned”, you get the point.
The difference between Marijuana and illegal drugs is that there is really no reason to partake other than the affect. With alcohol there are a few people who drink it purely for the taste I suppose. However, Marijuana and illegal drugs do not taste good, so I think that is a pretty hard argument to stand on.
Ultimately, after working with addicts and dealing with addiction myself in many different areas, addiction is a fruit of a broken heart. It doesn’t matter what the substance or way we come at it, the reason is always the same. It to escape what is happening in our life without taking it to the only place that real healing can happen. It is the world’s attempt to replace Jesus.
Yep, I said it. I truly believe the message of the Bible is very clear. It is about knowing and growing in Jesus Christ. Anything (Drugs, pornography, materialism, pride, self-righteousness, Facebook, shopping, etc.) is the world’s attempt to bring us peace and rest.
The problem is that only Jesus can bring true peace and true rest.
John 14:27 “I (Jesus) am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” NLT
See the gift is not an idol to make us feel better. It is a person. I real live person. It is Jesus, and as Paul said in Galatians, and I am experiencing today, no idol can bring what I am learning to live in.
Hebrews 4:1 “God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it.”
Again the writer of Hebrews is showing us that we can only find rest in placing our faith in Jesus Christ.
So the problem is not the substance or idol. The problem is why are people turning to them instead of to Christ?
The answer is very simple. It is a lot easier to go to the liquor store, local dispensary or computer to find my idol, then it is to spend the time to get to know my Savior. It is not easy to find Jesus. That is on purpose.
I truly believe that when Peter said to work out our Salvation through fear and trembling, it was because Jesus wants out hearts. And our hearts are the hardest thing to give away. We are taught from the beginning to not let people to close, because, they can and will hurt us. So we turn to things that we don’t think can. We turn to idols that are easy and do damage but it take away the pain for now.
At the end of the day this is the way I have come to this conclusion.
Everyone knows the damage that Meth is going to do to them. However, people knowing that truth, start taking it every day. They turn their lives over to it, and will give up everything to have it. Why? Because they just want away from the pain, and unfortunately don’t know what else to do but to turn to what the world has to offer.
I am offering you life, and it more abundantly than any substance can give you. What I am talking about is more wonderful than anything you can find in a store or on the internet. I am offering you the answer to the emptiness that you are running from.
It is Jesus.
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