Many of us know from personal experience and from what we have seen and heard from others that the consequences of a lifestyle of drug or alcohol misuse are painfully destructive. Throughout North America the toll of death from opioid overdose is sky high. The long-term health effects on users include liver disease, cancer, and heart disease. We know that innocent others are also damaged through crime, violence, and stress. Many of us have a turbulent history with our family and loved ones that we are still trying to sort out.
One of the consequences of living a destructive lifestyle is simply the sense of lostness we experience. We don’t know where we are or where we are going. It’s like being blinded by darkness. Without the turning of our will and our lives over to the care of God, that darkness will end with us dying and going out to an eternity without God.
He will guard the feet of his faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness. It is not by strength that one prevails. (1 Samuel 2:9 NIV)
As clearly as there are horrific consequences to a life of sin and destruction, we can take heart that there are also amazing outcomes when individuals make the choice to surrender their lives to God and live under His care.
God is ready and willing to work with us as we sort out and deal with our past brokenness. He is ready to bless us with new life, with peace, with strength, with freedom, and with life forever with Him in heaven.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, You alone know how I lived in the darkness. I now ask for Your forgiveness and Your help to live my life according to Your principles. Please give me the wisdom and strength that I need to make amends and sort things out with those I have harmed. Amen
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