“Over 35 and never been drunk?”
Yes, he couldn’t believe it. And I didn’t tell him how much over 35 I am. He’s working through a problem with addiction – on many levels. All we can do at this point is keep pointing to Christ – the only One who can give us the strength we need to stand strong in the face of temptation.
So, is it such a “strange” thing for someone to make it to middle age without ever being under the influence of drugs such as alcohol and marijuana? To some folks it is. You should see their reaction when we tell them that we married at 21 – as virgins. In today’s society people seem to think that sinking to the “lowest common denominator” is the way to go. As Christians we should strive to reach a higher plane, a higher way of living – and to help others to raise up over the siren call of our fallen culture in order to also stand on a higher level.
It’s not easy, but it IS possible. It takes more than a casual effort to do so, however, and thus may seem like “too much of a challenge” to some folks.
But people need to know “It IS possible to live a life that is pleasing to Christ.” They need to know that they TOO can raise above the muck and mire and walk “in newness of life”. Although I managed to make it to adulthood (and beyond) sober, I found plenty of other ways to sully my path. We all have weaknesses in one way or another and we all need the redeeming blood of Christ to wipe us clean, to allow us to walk near to God instead of along our own miry way.
