The devil wants to kill us and prevent us from getting close to God through having good health, wealth, functional families, non-addictive behavior and by way of fellowship with others.
This experience enlightened me to the fact that hearing the preacher praise God is not enough to live a righteous life. We have to give up something; the “old man” must die. That's what Jesus Christ taught us in order to have a new life in God. Sometimes a new life in God may require letting go of jobs, cars, houses, family or anything that keeps our focus off of God. Ironically, I have learned that if one is addicted to drugs, eventually you will lose your job, car, home, or family anyway!
In the NA/AA meetings it was emphasized that recovery is a life long process and one must surrender and accept that fact; i.e. Step 6- "we are entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character." The NA/AA book must be read and practiced daily. One must testify to other addicts; i.e. Step 12-'having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts and to practice these principles in all our affairs.' All of these doctrines sound like what the word of God emphasizes for the lives of believers. And anybody who wants a new life in God must apply God's commandments in every aspect of living- just like the NA/AA techniques of recovery have to be applied.
The parable Jesus spoke about in Luke 8 of the Farmer and sowing seed was a great analogy to help me understand the role of the rehabilitation center-even in my life.
- First comparison, the farmer scattered seed on the ground-birds ate it, people walked on it. People receive a good sermon, good preacher, and great gospel songs; but unfortunately they go back to their old life. Client comes to rehab center-eats well, gets cleaned up, but absconds before completion.
- Second comparison, some of the seeds scattered fell on rocky places. As a result of no water the plants dried up. People get excited about the word of God, but don't apply it in their lives-so conversely when temptation comes, they fall apart. Client comes to rehab 30, 60, or 90 days-rested but never attended nor applied the recovery techniques of NA/AA meetings. Immediate relapse is inevitable-they just wanted to rest.
- Third comparison, some of the seeds fell on thorns, so the thorns grew with it and crowded out the plants. People get the word of God, but go back to same old friends, surroundings, and temptations. Now they become overwhelmed and their thinking gets twisted. The client goes to the rehab, gets clean and is so excited about it. However they also return back to the old neighborhood people, friends, and temptations. Problems begin to occur and again the reality of relapse is foreseeable.
- The final comparison, some of the other seed fell on good soil, grows up and produces a crop 100 times more than the farmer planted. People get the word of God, press in on living and walking in that word, fellowship, serve, repent, testify, and cut out everything in their lives that weakens their growing rapport with God. They are blessed, and transformed beyond human explanation. The client successfully completes the rehab program, stays clean, begins to work their recovery by going to meetings daily, testifying, serving, and completely turning away from all old ways. Hence, their result is a life long clean/recovery time and restoration of so many things that were loss during their addiction.
Wrapping up
I pray that part of my purpose for experiencing the nest helped make it easier for someone else to “stick and stay.” I did in spite of my non-addiction to drugs. I wanted to be renewed, so I had to stand on the word of God-and completely surrender. I am grateful to the glory of God for all the women I met. They have helped to transform my life and I hope I had an impact on theirs. Perhaps someone through observing me learned to trust God again.
Whatever the case may be, I am reminded of the story of Ruth in the bible. Naomi was so annoyed with God, dejected and distraught over losing her sons and husband. Ruth stuck with Naomi despite her attitude and innuendos. And in the end Ruth helped Naomi to trust God again with increased faith. Everything in life really happens for a reason.
Jesus had an unquenchable yearning to take others with him to God; he knew God gave us the power to chose-not to acquiesce to deadly desires. We are supposed to worship God, love people and use things. I have seen that when people choose to use drugs, they have not only given way to sin, but they have opened up their bodies to be possessed and overthrown by evil. So now they worship things, use people and God is out of the picture.
