Call It What It Is

In an effort to soften harsh reality, we often call something by a name that doesn’t have a stigma attached to it.  For example, many Americans, including some reading this right now, have faced the harsh reality of getting fired. The terminology used while they were handed the pink slip was something along the lines of, “Gee sorry, we’re doing some corporate downsizing and restructuring, you know. . . .”  Those words did little to soften the blow to the person’s spouse and family upon his or her arrival at home that night, where it was now uncertain where the money for their next payment was coming from. 

The same thing is done with addictions.  They are called shortcomings, struggles, or personality flaws — pick one.  None of these labels do anything to fix the problem.  Those who are not willing to admit they know at least one person who struggles with a crippling addiction will not want to call it what it really is.  Lives are lost and families are destroyed, scarring not only individuals, but entire families and communities. 

Some people will see a sign or flier for an addictions program and bristle, while those who are broken and hurting, either from their own life-crippling addiction or from that of someone close to them, will welcome it.  Some of the best ways of dealing with harsh reality include brutal truth and honesty, and especially hope.  Maybe as you read this you are really struggling: life just hurts, and you can’t see anything ever changing for the better.  Or you may have someone in your life who is going through this, and you need the help and support to keep going.  I would love to have you join us for the Addictions Program at the Quentin Road Baptist Church this Friday night. 

Whether you join us or not, there is one thing I would like to share with you.  I used to be an alcoholic and a drug addict; and if it wasn’t for the grace and mercy of God, I would be dead or, at the very least, in prison right now.  I had given up on God, didn’t care about life, and was in a very dark place.  I had been taught my whole life that I could somehow be good enough to go to Heaven when I died (and honestly, since I wasn’t, I gave up on God).  Maybe you believe the same way.  Let me share with you true hope in what the Bible says. 

First, there is bad news.  Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”  Whether we want to admit it or not, we have all done at least one bad thing in our lives.  Because of this sin, God cannot let us into His perfect Heaven.  Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  This is referring to eternal death in Hell, separated from God forever. 

The second half of Romans 6:23 is the beginning of the good news.  God offers us eternal life as a gift.  This is a gift we cannot earn by our good works.  This means quitting our addictions, or even wanting to quit our addictions, will not get us into Heaven.  Ephesians 2:8–9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”  God can offer us this gift because the Lord Jesus Christ was made sin in our place and paid the price for us.  2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”  He died in our place.  John 3:16 tells us, “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.”  All we have to do to go to Heaven and have eternal hope is at one time believe we are sinners who deserve Hell.  Then we simply believe the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross and shed His blood to pay for all of our sins.  He was buried and rose again to prove the payment had been accepted.  As John 3:16 and many other verses say, we then have everlasting life.  We can’t lose what God says is forever.  Even if we continue to struggle and indulge in our addictions, we can never lose our salvation. 

What do you have to lose right now by trusting that Christ died in your place to give you eternal life?  This is true hope. 

If there is anything at all I can do for you, please let me know.  Feel free to call or email me (my contact information is below).  You can also find more information
on the Addictions Program at www.addictionsprogram.com.

Jim Boyce
Addictions Program Director
Quentin Road Baptist Church
Office: 847-438-4494 x1067
Cell: 847-220-2961
Email: jim@addictionsprogram.com