My memories are filled with recollections of being taught about God and weekly church attendance. The problem is, even though I was taught about God, went to church and Sunday school, VBS, memorized scripture I was still a bad kid. I lied, cheated at games, stole and cursed regularly. Started smoking cigarettes at a very young age and soon after that was drinking and doing drugs. I think some of this was due to my view on who I believed God was.

I thought that God was the Supreme Creator sitting way up in Heaven with  a BIG BOOK writing down an X beside your name every time you did something wrong. I thought God was angry with mankind. I thought He was so angry that He was just waiting to exact His judgement on man and would have this sort of grimacing smile on His face as He did it. I knew nothing of His promises to mankind. I knew nothing of God’s love or the Holy Spirit empowering us. I thought Christians were supposed to live a meek and meager and sad existence. BOY WAS I WRONG! And it took me half a lifetime to find out that I was wrong. These are a few of the thoughts I now have about God.

1. God Loves You!

Not like the love we know. This is a love that goes beyond what our brain can comprehend. I mean, God is a Spirit and natural man can not discern spiritual things. This is an everlasting love, a perfect love. A love that never turns its back on you. A love that  is patient and kind. A love that  is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. A love that never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1Corinthians 13:4-7) A love that would lay down its life for you. (John 15:13 and John 3:16)

2. God Wants You To Have Fun!

The famous writer of “The Chronicles of Narnia” series of books, C. S. Lewis, was once quoted as saying, ” Joy is the serious business of heaven”.  Oh how true this proves to be everyday to me. The Bible continually tells us to rejoice which actually means to be glad, take delight, be joyful or to make joyful. I don’t know about you but to me those are all FUN words. In the Old Testament of the Bible, God’s chosen Israels calendar was full of Festivals and Holidays. Just a quick look at Wiki will show 20+ such Festivals and Holidays and that does not include the births of children, marriages and such that are celebrated with extravagance. In my calculation that is almost 2 huge parties every month. And then there comes next year and the year after! Do you remember the first miracle that Christ was recorded as performing in the Bible? He was at a marriage feast (see, that just sounds fum right there!) and turned large jugs of water into wine. And can I let you in on a little secret? They drank the wine! I’m not saying “go out and get smashed”. I’m saying you can have a drink once in a while and not have to repent. Now in my case, I can’t drink. But I have already drank enough alcohol in my lifetime to kill 3 men, so for me now I believe it is just wrong! But God wants you to have fun, to enjoy your life and to be happy with what He has blessed you with. “I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.” Ecclesiastes 3:12,13 Really, enjoy life, within reason!

3. God Keeps His Promises!

You see, we make promises all the time. We promise our kids to go to the park or zoo this Saturday and it rains. We promise our mate to be home for dinner and the boss ask you to work late. We promise “till death do us part” and then get a divorce. (Not true in all cases but there is a 65%+ divorce rate in the USA) We just have problems and let circumstances control our ability to keep promises. But God is Holy and Faithful. Everything He ever promised in the Bible has been or will soon come to pass. He promised the great flood, promised to bring Israel out of slavery from Egypt, and most importantly to our generation, the promise of Christ coming to save mankind! And the promise that Christ will return.

You can be certain that when you die or Christ returns that you are ready to meet your maker. It’s really simple. Honestly ask God to forgive you of your sins, confess Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior and receive the atonement that Jesus Christ gave his life for you for the forgiveness of your sins you will be saved. God loves you more than anything and wants to offer you eternal life with Him and a life here on earth free of drugs, alcohol, pornography and all other addictions! No matter what you have done in the past, it can and will be forgiven.If you have just accepted Christ into your life please seek out a church, pastor or Christian counselor that can help you along your newfound road. Sobriety is a new journey for some of us and we need all the direction we can get!

If you don’t know where to turn please leave me a comment and I will direct you in the right direction!

God bless each and every one of you who share this struggle and my prayer for you is to accept Christ into you heart and your continued sobriety and freedom!