The Real Answer to AddictionSample

Colossians 3 says, “Put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living (one version translates this word “addicted”) in them. But now you must put them all away” (verses 5-8a). 

Once we’ve been saved and given a new nature, our lives must be brought in accordance with these spiritual realities. The phrase “put to death” implies a violent attack. Not so much a nice funeral service, but a ruthless murder. God has given us a new nature, now we must brutally murder our old desires, thoughts, and actions if we are going to experience the full richness of intimacy with God.

These extreme measures echo Jesus’ words: “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell” (Matthew 5:29-30). We must be willing to cut anything out of our lives that keeps us from God.

A life of addiction brings with it a laundry list of shameful secrets, resentments, and fears. One way to “cut off your hand” is by writing down and confessing all the things still affecting you from the past, so the light of the Gospel can shine on each specific situation.

This process of evaluating the past is like having soul surgery. It hurts terribly and there is a long recovery process, but just like having surgery to cut out a cancerous mass, the process is worth the payoff. The pain of not addressing the cancer is much greater than the pain of surgery. Open yourself up to the Master Surgeon and allow Him to cut out all of the pain, hurt, and sickness. Cutting off your arm is worth the freedom it will produce!

APPLICATION: 

• What practical steps do you need to take to put addiction to death?