Addictions combine a strange and strong desire with an inability to function well with it and distress without it. We’ve all seen the damage that some addictions can bring, like substances, sex, food, or self. But let’s flip the script.
Once
under two minutes
I ate an entire berry pie
Thereby
proving my gluttony
winning the blue ribbon
losing my love of berries for years
But today
having ridden the Honda sport bike over 600 miles
having seen the massiveness of your mountains and the rolling green hills and verdant pastures
having smelled new mown hay and rain infused sage and mint
having viewed yearling deer grazing and red-tailed hawks soaring and chipmunks scurrying
having observed placid lakes and rushing rivers and slow irrigation ditches
my addiction to you merely grows
(OK, a qualifier. Some astute readers may remember this poem, it was used four years back. But the post content is all new, inspired by a sermon from Chris Brown at our church, North Coast Church of Vista.)
Some addictions can be helpful and healthy. Honest. In John 6, Jesus challenged us, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (John 5:53). As a result, his popularity tanked, “From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him” (verse 66). Jesus seemed to take it hard, “’You do not want to leave too, do you?’ Jesus asked the Twelve (verse 67).
Peter then acknowledged his addiction to Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God” (verse 68).
Obviously, Peter hadn’t achieved perfection, just a little later he told Jesus he’d die for him, but within hours he strongly denied knowing him. But he grew strong in believing and knowing that Jesus was the Son of God.
That makes me ponder the difference between those disciples that abandoned ship and the flawed Peter who remained. They shrunk back from the hardness, because the value they saw in Jesus had less than avoiding that hardness. Peter found more value in Jesus than anything else, and eventually lost his life for that.
How we begin in following Jesus means little, the first group saw some good in Jesus, qualified as disciples, then left. How we finish means everything. Chris pointed out some stats in John 14:15-15:20. Those 37 verses use love 17 times, obey 8 times, fruit 9 times, and remain 11. Jesus wants us to know that genuine followers love and make an impact and remain. Even if it’s hard. Even if we die.
Really, if Jesus IS who he said, the Son of God, the Messiah, the only way to the Father, do we have any other rational options but addiction?
Kick Starting the Application
How “addicted” are you to Jesus? Do you often make your decisions without bringing him into the process? Maybe read that passage in John 14 and 15, and ask the Spirit to touch your heart.
Needing a Christmas present or two? “Addictions” is one of 84 poems in Outdoor Adventures, Sacred Trails, you can get it for just $10 including shipping. The motorcycle devo God, a Motorcycle, and the Open Road is just $15. Same deal!