Just The Way You Are
In 1979 the heroin epidemic swept through our community, the inner city of Dublin, and all the young people were hooked on it. I had two brothers that became addicts and after seeing the devastation it brought into our home and into their lives, I made a vow that I would never be addicted to anything.
When I was 18, however, I started hanging out with a young man named Mick and we started smoking marijuana together. Over the next four years I became addicted. I had become just like my brothers. I started to dislike myself and everything I was doing.
Change in life
In 1989, Mick came to see me after being away for some time. He was carrying a Bible in his hand saying “Jesus Christ can change your life.”
With friends, it was easy to jeer and laugh at him, but when I was on my own, I knew he had something that I needed in my life. There was a peace in Mick’s face that I had never seen. I invited him up to my flat to smoke some marijuana for old time’s sake. He came up, but instead of doing drugs, he told me about the love of God.
“If I did believe there was a God he sure wouldn’t come down to the flats and have anything to do with all of us,” I said, secretly hoping that was not true.
No more guilt and shame
I kept saying to Mick, “What do I have to give him? Do I have to give God my drugs and my money?”
But Mick said, “No, he loves you just the way you are. But he also loves you enough to change you from the way you are.”
Eventually, I committed my life to Christ. I knew my sins were forgiven. When I go to bed at night, I have a peace in my heart. I have peace in my mind. I can put my head down to sleep and know that I will wake up in the morning with no shame, guilt, or sin.
I gave up drugs for ever. I have had the privilege of leading many drug addicts and other hurting people to a personal relationship with Jesus. For me this demonstrates the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ to change lives.
Take a look at your life. How would you describe it? Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times. There are things we dream of doing one day, there are things we wish we could forget. In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new. What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?
Living with hope
If you are looking for peace, there is a way to balance your life. No one can be perfect, or have a perfect life. But every one of us has the opportunity to experience perfect grace through a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.
You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here’s a suggested prayer:
Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.
Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? You can pray it right now, and Jesus Christ will come into your life, just as He promised.
Is this the life for you?
If you invited Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you’ll experience life to the fullest.
