Out Of The Wilderness
Isaiah 29:24 - Those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding; those
who complain will accept instruction. (NIV)
During my teenage years, alcohol played a heavy role in my life. Coming from the
west of Scotland, a young boy felt pressured to drink at an early age. By the
time I was sixteen, I was partying every weekend. By the time I was nineteen, I
was drinking every lunchtime. After my daily work, I would head to the pub and
drink until closing time. When I was twenty, I woke up early one morning and
found myself lying in a public park, right beside the banks of the River Clyde.
I couldn't remember how I got there or what I had done the previous night. My
mind was an alcoholic blur. I needed help, but I didn't know to whom I could
turn.
Throughout the next couple of weeks, I tried to remain sober, but I just
couldn't do it. Eventually, I pleaded with God to help me. If nothing changed, I
would kill myself, either through drinking myself to death or committing
suicide. For six weeks, I was in limbo, and then I saw an ad in the Saturday
evening newspaper about a Gospel Club that was being held in a city-centre
church.
I went to the club on the following Wednesday night and found myself in the
basement of an old 17th century church. Red, green, and yellow neon lights were
in the ceiling, and a praise band was leading worship. Everyone was singing
about Jesus, and I felt I was home at last. My wayward years in the alcoholic
wilderness were over. My instruction into the Christian life had just begun.
When we feel lost and completely disconnected from God, He sends Christ into our
lives to find us, so that we can be restored to God's favour and love.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, sometimes we turn off Your path and fill our lives with
things that harm us by drawing us away from You. Help us this day to stop
wandering and to start back on the road that is called Heaven's Highway. In Your
holy name, we pray. Amen.
John Stuart traqair@aol.com Knoxville,
Tennessee, USA
Thanks to http://daily.presbycan.ca