Foundational Truths for the Addicted (Part 1)

The first foundational truth for the addict is the answer to the question Who are you?  It amazes me at how as a society we label the addicted.  I hear regularly people labeling themselves as alcoholics, or addicts and many in society labeling them with terms like drunkard, crackhead, junkie, smackhead, or druggie.  Is this who you are as one struggling with addiction?  I think not.

To understand who we are let us look at where we came from. 

Genesis 1:26 (KJV) ²⁶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Genesis 2:21-23 (KJV) ²¹ And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; ²² And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. ²³ And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

According to God, you are made in the likeness of God.  God's Word declares you as the only one of His creation made in His image.  Yes, you may have made wrong choices that have led you into a lifestyle of addiction, but that is not who you are.  You are God's crowning work in creation.  You are the only one of God's creation made in His image. 

Foundational Truth #1:  You are Made in the Image of God!

Because you are made in the image of God there are two truths I would like for you to consider.

First, the God who made you, is the same God who can provide all of your needs. 

How many needs did Adam and Eve have that God did not directly provide?  Of course, the answer is none. Let's think about that for a second.  Did they have a need for love?  Yes they did, but God provided.  Did they have a need for personal significance and worth?  Yes they did, but God provided.   Were they living free from addiction, free from worry, free from depression, free from bondage, free from materialism, free from jealousy, free from discontentment?  Yes they were because God provided all their needs. 

God provided all their needs through their relationship with Him.  This same God is able to provide these same needs in our lives today. 

Philippians 4:18-20 (KJV) ¹⁸ But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. ¹⁹ But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. ²⁰ Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Notice what Paul is writing to the church at Philippi.  He is stating that through one's relationship with Jesus Christ all of our needs can be met.

Secondly, God made us with the ability to choose and think.

Being made in God’s image enables you to think and choose.  This was the case with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and is the case today.  Many people fail to remember that...

There was evil in the world while Adam and Eve walked in the Garden of Eden.

Isaiah 14:12-14 (KJV) ¹² How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! ¹³ For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: ¹⁴ I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

Satan had already been loosed on earth.  His presense here presented Adam and Eve with the choice between right and wrong.

There were choices to obey God’s Word or to disobey God’s Word.

Genesis 2:16-17 (KJV) ¹⁶ And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: ¹⁷ But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Like Adam and Eve, each of us is given the freedom to choose to obey or disobey the commands of God. 

 Eve and then Adam choose to disobey God’s Word.

Genesis 3:1-6 (KJV) ¹ Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? ² And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: ³ But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. ⁴ And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: ⁵ For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. ⁶ And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Eve and then, Adam choose to disobey God and disobedience to God's Word has consequences.

Adam and Eve suffered the consequences of their choice.

We lose our freedom to choose when we give in to sin. The consequence are inevitable, incalculable, and up to God. Proverbs 5:22, Proverbs 20:17, Proverbs 9:17-18  RECOVERY PRINCIPLE #9

Click here to learn more about Recovery Principle #9: http://www.reformude.com/10-principles.html
Genesis 3:7-8 (KJV) ⁷ And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. ⁸ And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden

Although we choose to obey or disobey God and His Word, we do not control the outcome of our actions.  God alone determines the consequences to our sin.  This leads us to foundational truth #2.

Foundational Truth #2:  Sin Has Consequences

We will look more at the foundational truths for addicts in the next blog, including the consequences of our choices according to God's Word. 

Let me close this article, by offering to each one of you a restored relationship with God.  God loves you and God desires to have your fellowship, and friendship.  Remember, we are made in His image.  He is willing and able to supply our needs.  To read more about God and His desired relationship with you please visit:  http://www.reformude.com/first-step.html  If you would like to see and hear more visit: http://www.preciousseed.com