We're in This Together

There was a time in my life when I looked at addicts, not with compassion, but with pity  and with judgment. Then I realized I was one....

     

We are all addicts. Maybe our drug of choice is socially acceptable.  Maybe it brings death slower than some drug.  Maybe it's just easier to hide.  But truth be told, we are all in need of being set free.

     

Here is the truth about us.  We are all born into a fallen world.  We enter into life with all the potential of every uniquely created, image-bearer of God.  We are dearly loved by our creator.  He delights in us, wants to be one with us, and stands ready to give us life and everything we need.  But how many of us hear that when we are growing up?  We all, in one way or another, hear the message, "You are not good enough. Something is wrong with you." The message is delivered through parents, coaches, and friends,  through words spoken, or words not spoken,  like "I love you" or "I'm proud of you."   The message comes through abuse or  through neglect and abandonment. And regardless of how we hear it, we respond to that message in one of two ways: with despair (I will never be good enough, so I'll just spend my life trying to numb myself to the pain that comes with that hole in my heart), or with drive (I will prove to myself and everyone else that I am good enough!).  Whatever gives relief to the pain or fills the emptiness even for a moment, becomes addictive.

Here's my personal list,  just off the top of my head, of what I've looked to for comfort, relief, and escape over the years:  Approval/people pleasing and new relationships with people who think I'm a "great guy;" Food even when I'm not hungry (especially sweets); Pornography, Productivity, Feeling useful/Feeling needed; Television; Exercise and being in shape (I'm officially completely free of that one!); and even Religion.  Feeling "right" can be addictive.

And you?  Is it gossip (having something interesting to offer)?  Is it shopping?  Is it the adrenaline rush that comes from some extreme sport or a new business venture?  Is it "just a little more money?" Is it power? The question is not whether or not we are addicted. The question is not whether or not we too are brokenhearted and in need of healing and being set free.  The question is what are we looking to, besides God, to fill us, comfort us, and relieve the pain of our broken hearts?

When Jesus first came on to the scene and began his public ministry, the first thing He did was open a scroll and read from Isaiah 61, declaring Himself as the fulfillment of this prophecy: "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn and to provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  He will call them oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor."

We are all brokenhearted, and we have all turned to something besides the healing Christ offers to escape the pain.   I would sum up the ministry of Jesus like this: Trust me, and I will be good enough for you.  I will give you a new heart.  I will give you my track record.  I will give you my strength.  And the words spoken over Me by my Father can now be spoken over you: "This my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."  It's what we all want to hear.  It's what we all need to hear.  Our true Father loves us and is pleased with us...we're ok.

Jesus has made that possible and it is finished.

    

Whether we are addicted to meth, cocaine, alcohol, sex, gambling, tobacco or chocolate, we are all in this together.  We need the freedom that Jesus offers. We need to have every lie we've come to believe about ourselves replaced with the truth of what our Creator says about us. To know that we are ok, because he says we are ok;  because he has forgiven us for every way we have turned to something besides Him for life: because He made us okay by giving us His spirit to live in us.