GARRY LUNGU
ABOUT 18 years ago, I was considered a heavy drunkard, for me I thought that was a way of a happy life. As the Bible says, “You will know the truth and the truth shall set you free”, John 8:32 NIV. It was when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and personal saviour, about 18 years ago that I began to study His life-saving knowledge, the Bible.
I came across a scripture which changed my life forever. As it is written, the Apostle Paul stated that, acts of the sinful nature are obvious sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft, hatred, discord jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions factions and envy, drunkenness orgies and the like.
I warn you as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19 – 21, NIV. The battle began when I decided to start living by the word. Soon I realised I did not just love drinking alcohol but that I was addicted and that it was not easy to let go. It was my prayer that God should completely deliver me from drunkenness. I also had to make the effort to replace it with soft drinks and by the grace of God, it worked.
Thank God, I was delivered and I am now 17 years in ministry, still serving the Lord faithfully. The dictionary defines addiction as “devoted to” thus; it may apply on either bad or good. An addiction is like the fish which is hooked, easy to fall in but hard to get out. I consider addiction as an abuse of something and unhealth. Now my concern is on the addiction to something bad and my emphasis is on breaking the power of addiction.
Being addicted to something is almost being enslaved to it. The trap of addiction seems to be innocent, no wonder most people fall in it easily without even being aware. It is a sad development to learn that most people instead of contributing to poverty reduction initiatives and development are doing the opposite.
What used to be shocking then was that it appeared a normal thing. What people used to do in secret, now they are doing it in public and they are not even ashamed or afraid. Where are we going, as a people who are supposed to be representable family members and citizens and role models?
It is evident that there is no regard for the future and the fear of God but the question is why have we become so vulnerable to illicit activities? Where is our dignity and values? Sex and alcohol have now become the leading slave masters. Some people can no longer be in a place with an opposite sex without desiring to sleep with them.
Such people are on the high way to destruction just like those in drugs, smoking and other immoral activities. Now since such people do not seem to change, despite the constant advocacy for behavioural change by concerned individuals and organisations. It seems that the problem is beyond physical redemption. The fact is that behind every addiction there is a spiritual force and every spiritual problem needs a spiritual intervention. However, there are also practical measures that can be taken.
You have to help yourself get liberated. Try to replace a bad habit with a good one just like I did. If you do not seek spiritual help, it is possible that you can end up like that. The Bible says, “He whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but he whose ways are perverse will suddenly fall”. Proverbs 28:18
Today you can change your life for better. Believe that you can also be a solution and a blessing to someone. Therefore, promise yourself that you will never do something that leads to ruin or destruction neither anything that can cause pain to someone. Remember, prayer answers all things therefore, let it be your prayer that the power of addiction be broken permanently in Jesus’ name, You should be should be quick to realise, when you go astray and you will not find the access to fulfillment and satisfaction.
The author is an apostle and counselor.