To the DRUG ADDICT,
the Potter loves you.
Psalm 109:2-5 (2)Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his
benefits -- (3)who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
(4)who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
(5)who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is
renewed like the eagle’s. (NIV)
Ever
since the fall of man, sin has taken its toll on the human race. The world is
full of sorry, misery, pain, death and unhappiness for many people. The demands
of life have caused many to be stressed out where they look for outlets to
escape the realities of what they consider to be challenging and sometimes dire
situations. Those who find it difficult to cope with life will sometimes turn
to methods of release that end up doing more harm than good. Their temporary
escape leads them to a prison that they never intended to enter – only to find
themselves unable to leave due to being bound with chains. Thoughts of low
self-esteem, lack of self-worth, feelings of inadequately, and low morale makes
the chains heavy and even though the prison door may be wide open for them to
leave, they remain in place because the chains that bind them make them feel
safe.
Some individuals
have turned to things like drugs in order to be in a world of oblivion away
from their problems. They later find themselves hooked and instead of escaping
their issues, they have been greatly increased. The need to have something to
rely on even if it’s in the form of a pill, shot, or powder is felt as being
better than dealing with the underlying issues at hand. It is like putting a
bandage over an open wound, however, and expecting it to heal properly. It
can’t!
The prophet Elijah
experienced a time of depression after going up against the priests of Baal.
King Ahab and Queen Jezebel where the rulers of Israel during that time and
they had a strong dislike for the prophets of God. Queen Jezebel despised them
so much that she had as many as should could killed. After Elijah had put 400
of her idolatrous priests to death by the sword, she vowed that she would have
the same thing done to him and so, Elijah went on the run. 1 Kings 19:2 So Jezebel sent
a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely,
if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” (NIV)
His circumstances
seemed dire to him because he felt that he was alone in his situation and had
no one to turn to. Even though he had stood before a wicked king, 400 priests
of Baal and the Children of Israel in the great showdown, he did not feel
victorious in any way. He was depressed and stressed. He had done all he knew
to do before God and others. He had been faithful with all that God had told
him to do, but at this point, Elijah was physically and spiritually tired. His
depression was so great that he prayed for death. 1 Kings 19:4 …He came to a
broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough Lord,”
he said. “Take my life, I am no better than my ancestors.” (NIV) He
felt that this would be a merciful act of God if He would see fit to let him
rest in peace. Nevertheless, that was not in God’s plans. Instead, God sent an
angel to see after him by giving him food and water. God later showed him
through a whisper that He was with him and that all was not lost. There had
been others who remained faithful to God and Elijah was not alone. 1 Kings
19:18 “Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed
to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” (NIV)
You or someone you
know may be dealing with drug addiction. You may have tried it one time just to
escape reality, used it just for fun, and/or wanted something just to take the
edge off of things or so you thought. You may not have intended to be addicted
to drugs, but it happened just the same. Life happened! You may think that your
life is now out of control and you have no idea how you will ever get it back
on course. Well, guess what? You can’t but the Potter can. 2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have
this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God
and not from us. (NIV)
The Potter created
you so He knows your inner workings. He understands what caused you to turn to
the drugs and has a great restoration plan for you. That’s right! You can be
fully restored to be the person that He created you to be. All you have to do
it to turn your situation over to Him. You cannot do it alone. You need the
Potter’s help and the help of others who can help guide you down the right
path. The Potter loves you! Prescription drugs, meth, crack, heroin, pot and
other drugs cannot do for you what the Potter can. Those things give you a
temporary fix with more problems guaranteed to be added on, but the Potter
gives you a permanent solution. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 We are hard pressed
on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but
not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (NIV)
The Potter sent his
Son, Jesus, to save you right where you are at. Oh, you may think that you are
a helpless case, but the Potter specializes in restoring broken vessels for
special service. He doesn’t care what you have done or what others’ opinions of
you are because He finds you absolutely loveable. That’s right! You are
loveable! Jesus thought that you were so loveable that He gave up His life so
that you could have one. Therefore, let go of the drug house and stop at the
Potter’s house. The high that He will give you is like nothing that you will
find in any drug. His high will never have you to hit rock bottom. Give Him a
try today. There’s healing at the Potter’s house. Jeremiah 17:14 “Heal me, Lord,
and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.”
(NIV)
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