How good am I? I beat drugs! 🙃

Tonight I was reminded yet again of how some people are *completely* blind to some simple truths… 

“Well done Adam: you turned your life around, you beat drugs, you parented well” 

NOOOOO!!! Twice within an hour I found myself nearly arguing with the people who said things similar to this.  

Being in my extended family:
– they both know how bad a person I was
– they both know of the massive life changing experience I had
– they both know I give credit to Jesus, not myself. 

But tonight they were both insistent, coming at it from a number of angles, determined to give me some credit for my changed life. But I can’t take it… 

Despite being:
– determined to change my life, quit drugs, stop drinking, not abuse or rip people off
– diligent in my pursuit of abstinence / freedom / happiness
– adamant there was no ‘god’ 
– convinced I was a morally ‘good’ person

I was *completely* powerless to change. I would state body “I am not drinking tonight, so I will drive”. I was sincere, however within an hour or two I would be more drunk than everyone else (still insisting to be the designated driver). 
I repeatedly tried to quit & be a better person, though it was futile. I was doomed to addiction, depression, anger, abuse and worse. 

But the instant Jesus revealed Himself, the very second He opened my eyes, *major* changes occurred. Suddenly I *knew* I was evil, selfish and worthy of judgment. At the same instant, I realised God loved me and Jesus had paid the debt I owed for my sin.

My desires in that moment changed – I loved people, cared for them and now didn’t have the same compulsion to drink or do drugs. I was free! Not from me trying, I was changed somehow from within. 

I didn’t try, I didn’t complete some secret steps, I didn’t repeat affirmations or phrases or do *any* of the things that people work at to be abstinent. 

The desire *and* the need to use drug or alcohol was gone. NO effort on my part. The credit I should get? NONE! 

I didn’t do anything. Jesus changed me. 

One of the conversations really blew me away. This person, a professor, staunch (and at times aggressive) atheist, well educated, experienced and bold in his assertions, was arguing his point passionately. 

He had come to me to congratulate me on how we had raised such amazing children. He listed all the different attributes they had that are in stark contrast to everyone else he had met (especially the students he teaches). 
He explained how much of the universities are teaching nonsense and how people had now lost the ability to reason or think logically. He was amazed at my children’s morals, abilities, relational depth, unique abilities / personalties and especially their teamwork in building our home / serving and doing life.

This conversation then transitioned in to how well I and Sharmini had parented and finally to how I had managed to change my life…

“but I didn’t – it was Jesus” 

My assertion got an instant reaction… “no it was you – you still had to do the work Adam” 

“no Geoff (name changed), I wanted to change, I tried to change, but I couldn’t. But when Jesus showed up I was changed instantly” 

[baffled look] – “yes Adam but you had to surrender…”  (I nodded in agreement). 

“what happened to you was….[long pause]… miraculous” 

I really could not believe what I was hearing! Yes OF COURSE it was miraculous. Have I now met an atheist that believes in miracles?

“Adam you were transformed..” 

“Geoff you have hit the ail on the head. Do you know that is exactly how the Bible describes what happened to me – nearly word for word?” 

“well the Bible has thousands of years of wisdom in it…” I am not making this up – this is what this atheist said! What was happening here? He then continued… 

“the 10 commandments form the basis of our morality and legal structure – we are stupid to ignore them & throw them out. No wonder our culture is struggling – we should not ignore them” 

At this point I am playing catch up – I mean WHAT?? Why is this man arguing for the Bible? The conversation went on for quite a while, eventually coming back to the way we had parented and ‘how amazing’ the children were. 

“but Geoff, in the Bible, this is normal. We simply tried to parent the way the Bible said. This is the result”

“Well, our culture is doomed and it is only men & women like them that have any chance of changing things”

!!!!!! ? !!!!!!  

He also said something like: “I don’t want to be blamed for what has happened and is happening to our culture and the new generation”. His point was that parents now say everything their children do is amazing when they actually needed truth, to be told that their work or effort or result actually wasn’t that good. 

It only dawned on me later that I missed an opportunity here: Geoff had wanted God thrown out. The result of throwing God out of a culture, out of education, out of the family, is exactly what he was describing. He was and is partly to blame. We all are. 

As Geoff said, love tells the truth – he tried to tell me I needed to cane while in the drug scene, told me I was an idiot (apparently – I don’t recall!), I need to return the favour now & let Him know, He needs Jesus! 

After tonight, he *may* just be more receptive! 

I write the above to encourage you. Share the Gospel boldly, follow Jesus in all areas of your life (spouse & family first!), serve, bless and love others and allow God to bring about the changes in others. People will eventually see the fruit 

Lord, please help us to be bold in sharing Your Truth with others. Thankyou for working on ‘Geoff’, please open His eyes to Your Gospel Truth & love. Help us to be willing and capable to be part of proclaiming Your name in tai culture and others…