A coworker lavished the lyrics of a particular song and proceeded to play it. I felt my heart drop; sadness began to fill me.
The song glorified choosing alcohol and drugs to self-medicate to make the world go away. One line asked, “Why did God hate him so much?”
My heart broke.
And then a mechanic in the room started singing it word-for-word and then proudly announced his six-year-old daughter could sing it word-for-word too.
My heart broken even further.
What are we teaching our friends, family, coworkers, and even our children? What we listen to, what we watch, and what we talk about has a direct relationship on our eternity.
Many who read this will focus on the six-year-old little girl in this story, but what about the two men in this story. One was a father to this girl and another is a coworker. Neither believes in Jesus. But they are good men. However, even our best is like a filthy garment in the sight of God because we were born into sin. There is no way to escape that truth.
Guard your hearts, my friends, while being of the world.
So, the question you might ask is, what did I do? I asked my fellow coworker if he really thought God hated him. He changed the subject. The mechanic heard my question and walked away.
Where are you in your walk with Jesus? Do not be fooled, Jesus loves you. So much that he willingly died a horrendous death on the cross for you and for me. He took all of our sins upon Himself in order that we may have life abundantly through Him.
That same day, I had another conversation with another mechanic. The timing was right where we weren’t interrupted. We discussed the song and I voiced my opinion on how abuse of alcohol and drugs destroys people and family.
He agreed. He said alcohol is ruling his life and is destroying his marriage. His wife and he were just now going back to church. I asked him what made him turn his life to alcohol and he said, “I was in Afghanistan in my early twenties and I saw stuff there that I can’t deal with to this day.” The man is 37 and wants rehab for his alcoholism and PTSD. My prayer is He finds a close, intimate relationship with Jesus.
I told him about the overcomers meetings at Bethel Acres on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights and of the overcomers meetings in Shawnee on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. I encouraged him to go.
Friends, if you are struggling please find help. There are people out there that will walk with you. You do not have to do it alone.
Isaiah 64:6 NASB. For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; and all of us whiter like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
1 Corinthians 15:33 NASB. Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals.