Crossroads of Hope for the Addictions of Life

Gerald Roberts

A Change of direction is not the arrival at to our destination. It is however the beginning of our journey to our ultimate purpose. Before I met Christ, I had no aim in life or higher objective. I was living for myself and for gratification through material or relational means. I was in a pursuit of the things in this world that were temporal and fleeting. But the Lord has been revealing his plan for me and for my life. He has created us all for a purpose and that purpose is to love Him and to love others. Christ instructs us of this in Matthew 22:

35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

So in his word, God has provided us with a “blueprint” of his plan for our lives. As we go through life’s struggles and challenges, these occasions are intended by God to mold and shape us into the believers and worshippers he would have us to be. So as I go through my daily walk, I try to see each trial as a lesson the Lord is allowing me to experience, that I will be developed in his will. I don’t always like it and I seldom understand where and how he is guiding me, but to receive the full blessing awaiting me, I have to approach each situation with a full trust in God.

God has a plan for us and he knows why he places certain people and situations in our path. Sometimes they are intended to develop us. Sometimes we are to be the examples to others. In this life, we can never come into contact with another person and not be affected in some way. At the end of our day, during that quiet prayer and meditation time we have with the Lord, we should look back at the activities of the day and ask God to reveal to us the meanings of our interactions with others. We can examine each encounter and look for the details that the lord was trying to reveal to us through the people we have made contact with. And with the Lord’s favor and a little dedication to this exercise, we will begin to see “that all things work together for the good to them that love God…”

Romans 8:

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Gerald Roberts

Past performance does not necessarily indicate future results.

What does this mean? In the financial world, this is a disclaimer used primarily to alert investors that even though a stock or mutual fund has done well in the past, it is not guaranteed in any way to do so in the future. This is a required disclaimer by the Securities and Exchange Commission as a warning to investors or potential investors to do their homework and understand the nature of the investment vehicle they are considering venturing into.

The seller of the stock, bond, or fund, The Broker, wants you to buy his product. Like any salesman, he will be quick to show you all the shiny bells and neat whistles but may fail to disclose the flat tire.

We hold on to “past results” when someone we know is trying to change from an old lifestyle. We frequently will not give them credit for what they are trying to do, and as a result are waiting to see them fail. We make bets on how long it will take them to return to their old ways. As soon as they stumble we are quick to say “you see? I told you he wasn’t for real!”

Proverbs 24:17 warns us not to do so with our enemies; “Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:” How much more then for our brother?

Sometimes, we even have these perceptions about ourselves. We can be our own worst enemy, telling ourselves there is no use in trying to change; we are just going to fail anyway.

Past performance is not indicative of future results! We do not have to fail. We do not have to expect others to fail. When we do this we are creating a self fulfilling prophecy that goes against Bible teaching.  2^nd Corinthians 5:17 tells us “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

I am reminded of a Christian brother of mine who recently left a concern with which we were both involved. I wished him well, and truly hoped and prayed for his success in his new endeavor. However, in the back of my mind I was giving him a window of time in which I expected to see him fail. I look at this now and can see it was a combination of my knowledge of his past and a projection of my own past history combined. I knew he had tried on several occasions to change his life with limited success, but so had I. It was probably more of my own shortcomings being projected onto him than a desire to really see him fail. It could have been my way of coping with my own fear of failing again. Either way it was not fair to him or me. Neither was I trusting in the power of the Lord to do magnificent things in both of our lives.

Further, it is bad enough that I harbored these thoughts within myself. If they had been known to him at the time, they could have served as a stumbling block to him. When we step out on something new, stepping out on faith, we do not need discouragement from the brethren. This is not love, and is counter to the commandments to love one another.

 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

When I see myself thinking and acting in this manner I am reminded of this passage in James 1: ⁵If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  ⁶But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  ⁷For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.  ⁸A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.  ⁹Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:  ¹⁰But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.  ¹¹For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.  ¹²Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

While it is true that Crossroads Rescue Mission accepts men and women from any religious or denominational background, we are unapologetically Baptist in our doctrine.  We seek to be Christ centered and not Baptist centered but for the sake of doctrinal identification all our teaching and preaching is from the King James Bible and is Baptist in position. 

One of the basic, historical Baptist positions is the tenant of soul liberty. This tenant is defined as follows from allaboutbaptists.com

 The individual soul is answerable to Almighty God and to Him alone.  This precludes giving up that independency to a pope, a priest, a system, an organization, a convention, a fellowship, an association, or any other human being.  None of these are given the authority to interpose anything whatsoever between the individual believer and God concerning any matter of faith. 

Men have been imprisoned and have died for this right.  Read the story of John Bunyan’s trials.  He clearly believed that religious matters are between the individual and God.  No man has the authority to dictate by force what another must believe.  We all have the right to be wrong, in the opinion of another.

How does this relate to Pastoral authority in today’s Independent Baptist Churches?  If we are not very careful we make popes of our pastors.  I do believe that God has given the church godly men and we are to follow their leadership and example. However, at the end of the day, I am responsible for my own actions. 

Therefore, what is a Baptist supposed to do when his pastor ask him to hold a doctrinal belief that goes against his understanding of the Scripture and violates his conscience? He must exercise the right of soul liberty as the head of his own home and agree to disagree.

The right to private judgment is the crown jewel of humanity, and for any person or institution to dare to come between the soul and God is blasphemous impertinence and a defamation of the crown rights of the Son of God – George W. Truett

Unfortunately, the oft repeated scene, played out in Baptist churches is a rift over perceived loyalty; a questioning of one’s spirituality over the failure to adhere to the party line.  This often continues until the individual feels so ostracized, so awkward, as that disagreement becomes so prominent in all his dealings at the church that he eventually leaves for another church.  If these issues were major doctrinal concerns, over which the Scriptures are clear then the separation is right and necessary, with the hopes of restoration.  However, they are often minor points, or nuances particular to a geographical location, or a new twist on a familiar verse that cause these differences. Let me quote from “The life of God in the Soul of Man” by George Burnet, who lived hundreds of years ago.

There is scarce a more unaccountable thing to be imagined, than to see a company of men professing a religion, one great and main precept whereof is mutual love, forbearance, gentleness of spirit, and compassion to all sorts of persons, and agreeing in all the essential parts of its doctrine, and differing only in some less material and more disputable things, yet maintaining those differences with zeal so disproportioned to the value of them, and prosecuting all that disagree from them with all possible violence; or if they want means to use outward force, with all bitterness of spirit. They must needs astonish every impartial beholder, and raise great prejudices against such person's religion, as made up of contradictions; professing love, but breaking out in all the acts of hatred.

Exactly.

By this shall men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

(Jn. 13:35)

We know we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. (1 Jn. 3:14)

You don’t have to hate your brother in order to show love for your Father.  Though you at times may doubt it, we will spend eternity in Heaven together. (And since we are going to spend eternity together, at least speak to me in Wal-mart.)

There are many sorrows in this world.  Some are common to all men. Some are borne by only a few. Some have it thrust upon them. Some enter into it by a process of choosing only to find it left them dumbfounded, years later, with an indescribable ache. There is a sorrow that so penetrates the soul that regardless of what joys life may bring afterwards, in the deep recess of their being, it lurks. It tempers every laugh, it steals from every pleasure, flattens every song. It makes one lonely in great crowds. It makes tears trickle when it visits in the night. It robs of intimacy with friends and spouse. It causes an pain of wistfulness that cannot be explained.  Even when, for brief moments, there is the attainment of things lost, the joy of those moments is hostage to the coming cessation of it, so that the happiness of the present is a slave to the pain of the future. While a man may rejoice in all God has given him presently, there remains a longing for what could have been.  What could have been spiritually. What could have been financially. What could have been in the family. What could have been in the standing of that man among his peers who is now judged by the consequences of the choices of his distant past.

Experience clarifies the Bible for us. We do not interpret the Bible by experience but experience has a way of clarity about it. It tempers our dogmatism and humbles our pride. “God will never put more on you than you can bear,” is often stated. While I understand from where that statement is drawn, experience clearly teaches otherwise.  There is much upon me that I cannot bear. There are painful questions I cannot answer. There is an ache I cannot stifle. I cannot bear it!

 Is there a remedy? I have found only one. I found it not in success in other venues, nor in the return of moments lost.  I find it only on my knees, when I “pour out my heart before Him.” It is the embrace of the sweetest of lovers. Then is the ache silenced.  Then is solace found. Then the loneliness is lost in the friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Only there do I find hope.  There I learn the true lesson of experience. God puts far more on me than I can bear… so that I may learn to allow Him to bear it for me.  For without Him I can do nothing.  I have found the secret that Hugh Stowell wrote about in his great hymn:

                                                From every stormy wind that blows,

                                                From every swelling tide of woes,

                                                There is a calm, a sure retreat:

                                                ‘Tis found beneath the mercy seat.

                                                There is a place where Jesus sheds

                                                The oil of gladness on our heads;

                                                A place than all besides more sweet:

                                                It is the blood bought mercy seat.

                                                There is a scene where spirits blend,

                                                Where friend holds fellowship with friend:

                                                Tho’ sundered far, by faith they meet

                                                Around one common mercy seat.

                                                Ah! Whither could we flee for aid

                                                When tempted, desolate, dismayed,

                                                Or how the host of Hell defeat,

                                                Had suffering saints no mercy seat.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE SNARE OF PRIDE

C.S. Lewis said of pride: "There is no fault of which we are less conscious in ourselves, and probably more conscious of in others, because pride by its very nature, is deceitful."

PRIDE makes us feel special and unique. This statement does not refer to the uniqueness of being created in the image of God; rather, it's the undue self-esteem which makes us feel more important than other members of the body of Christ.

PRIDE leads us to concentrate on our rights instead of our responsibilities. We're always looking at how our rights have been violated instead of looking at how we can be responsible and accountable to God and people.

PRIDE produces hardness of heart. We become insensitive to the needs of others. The first sign of hardness of heart is when we begin to withhold love from others.

PRIDE produces a lack of forgiveness. "Why should I forgive them? They hurt me." Have you ever said that or thought that?

PRIDE produces self-pity. Self-pity is a bottomless pit; it's never satisfied. Usually we get into self-pity because we violate the scriptural injunction not to compare ourselves among ourselves (II Cor. 10:12).

PRIDE produces an un-teachable spirit. How long does it take us to repent when conviction has been brought by the Spirit of God? If it takes a long time, there's some work the Holy Spirit needs to do in the area of pride.

PRIDE prefers selfish interests over others' needs.

PRIDE will not admit mistakes. We blame others and excuse ourselves; and then we say, "You're picking on me. Why are you doing that?"

PRIDE leads to stinginess. We are afraid there will not be enough left for ourselves.

PRIDE is sarcastic in humor. We cut other people down with humor. Sarcastic humor implies, "You're not going to be elevated above me in any way; therefore, I'm going to cut you down so that I can look down on you." Godly humor edifies; it builds up, and it's very creative. Anything sarcastic is not from God, because God does not have a sarcastic heart.

PRIDE leads us to rely on our own wisdom and understanding. It brings about an inability to see clearly, to think things through, and to hear the Word of the Lord. If pride has a place in our hearts, we'll misunderstand what God is saying.

PRIDE produces an independent or non-submissive spirit that leads us to adhere to the letter of the law, neglecting the spirit of the law.

PRIDE causes impatience with others, calling it a personality conflict. There is no such thing as a personality conflict in the body of Christ. It's not a question of who's right and who's wrong, but how I respond.

PRIDE responds with judgment, slander and criticism-sometimes speaking the truth to someone who doesn't have a right or need to know.

PRIDE produces discontentment. Are we discontent with where God leads us and the people He has put us with? Are we always wanting to be somewhere else, doing something else? If God has led you wherever you are, get your heart in the situation until you are content with where He's led; stop looking somewhere else! God does not authorize spiritual butterflies or spiritual bumblebees.

PRIDE needs to be begged to do something. If you need to be begged to do something you have the ability to do you are being proud.

PRIDE makes excuses before it begins. If the Spirit of God is going to receive the glory in and through your life, don't make excuses that rob the Spirit of God from receiving any glory. Just shut up and do what you've been asked to do.

PRIDE produces insecurity and low self-image. The way we can become the center of attention is by concentrating on our insecurity and our low self-image. Usually there is insecurity in our lives because we haven't seen God for who He is. If we'll see God for who He is, we'll be so excited and expanded with who God is that we'll then be able to handle the revelation of who we are and put our lives in proper perspective; then we won't need to be insecure anymore.

PRIDE expects others to consult us, and is offended when we are not consulted.

PRIDE demands that others go through what you went through. If something was a requirement for you to get to a certain spiritual plateau, then it's got to be a requirement for everyone else.

PRIDE is envious or jealous. We don't rejoice with other's blessings, but rather concentrate on why we weren't blessed. Pride is at the heart of this selfishness.

PRIDE tries to touch God's glory.

PRIDE always wants to be strong. We don't want to receive from others or to be vulnerable so that we have to receive.

PRIDE produces selected submission. You have no doubt heard it said, "I'll submit to them because I feel they are spiritually mature; but I won't submit to this person." You'd better learn to submit to each person under whose authority God puts you because He does it for a purpose.

PRIDE creates disloyalty and undermines authority. It is Absalom meeting the people when they came out from David; he hugs and kisses them and says, "Oh, poor David doesn't understand; tell Absalom about it." Have you been guilty of undermining authority because of pride?

PRIDE is ungrateful. Nothing is ever quite enough.

PRIDE is suspicious. It is wondering what others are saying about you; suspecting what somebody may be thinking, when there hasn't been any word communicated. But somehow you think you know; therefore, you act and make decisions based on what you think he's thinking, which is usually totally in error.

PRIDE leads us to find unity anywhere other than in the cross of Jesus. We look for unity in our culture, our gifts, our callings, in tongues and languages, in denominations, in our theology; we look for unity anywhere other than in the cross- but that's where true unity is!

PRIDE concentrates on what hasn't been done. "You know, I've never been invited to their home. They've never had me for a special meal." Stop concentrating on yourself. Have you ever invited them for a meal? Have you invited them for thirty meals?

PRIDE insists, "I was right; I don't need to humble myself." Have you ever been so right you're wrong?

We can choose humility just as we choose pride.

Proverb 18:12 says, "Before destructions the heart of man is haughty; and before honor is humility."