The Real Answer to AddictionSample

Many addiction specialists have declared that relapse is part of the recovery process. The graves of thousands have taken their advice, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Many have been set free for good, never to return to their ex-lover. The Holiday at Sea has become their eternal home. How can this be your reality? How can you have forever freedom?

Jesus sheds some light on this in Luke 8, in the Parable of the Sower. In this parable Jesus shows us the spiritual journey of four different types of people. Three of them fall away, but one perseveres until the end. These examples shed light on some of the main pitfalls we need to watch out for, as well as give us hope and show us the pathway to remain faithful and free forever.

PITFALL #1- The Enemy

The first pitfall Jesus tells us to watch out for is demonic opposition. In the parable, the devil prevents the hearer from ever believing, but he is a continued antagonist for the believer. We must be on guard at all times against the schemes of the enemy, putting on the armor of God every single day, and stay consistent in prayer and time in the Word. 

PITFALL #2- Testing and Persecution

The second person in Jesus’ parable is one who seems to receive Jesus with joy, but once they face opposition and persecution, they fall away. The Bible is clear that following Jesus will not be easy (John 16:33). When we face difficult times, we can either turn away from God, shaking our fist at him because our lives aren’t perfect, or lean into His promises, trusting that He will sustain us through it all.

PITFALL #3- Earthly Pleasures

The last pitfall Jesus addresses has to do with “the cares and riches and pleasures of life.” This is likely the most dangerous and discrete pitfall because the “choking” Jesus mentions isn’t instant. It’s a slow fade. We start out strong in our spiritual lives, bearing lots of healthy fruit, but we allow money, success, relationships, possessions, and other good things to choke out the God things. We slowly drift into loving the stuff God gives, and away from loving God Himself. We must be vigilant against this sneaky pitfall.

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

Although the opposition is fierce, Jesus does not leave us without hope in the parable. “As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.” He says there is a pathway to remaining faithful and fruitful forever. To these people, he promises a life that impacts the world a hundredfold what anyone could have thought or dreamed. This is a promise God loves to make good on!

APPLICATION:

• What are some of the main lies the devil puts into your mind on a regular basis? How can you replace these with truth?
• What will your response be when people persecute you for your faith?
• What are the main ways you are tempted by the pleasures of the world? How will you respond when these desires come?
• How is life going to look if you continue to stay faithful to Jesus? Spend some time journaling about the “hundredfold” life that Jesus is promising you.