Hello ,
Brennan Manning tells a story in his book The Ragamuffin Gospel. 25 years ago, he had a drinking problem. He voluntarily entered a 28-day treatment program. Early on in the treatment program they had to sit in a circle with a leader, and tell the other people in the group about the extent of their drinking.
During one of the first sharing sessions, a businessman named Max volunteered, "I really don't have a drinking problem. I just don't drink that much." Unflinchingly, the leader of the group phoned a bar that resided closely to where Max worked and proceeded to speak with the bartender. When asked if he knew Max, the bartender replied that Max was one of their best customers and drank at least six martinis each weekday
afternoon. Max finally admitted that he did probably drink more than he should and then added, "But I've never hurt anyone. My wife and children have never been hurt because of my addiction."
The leader proceeded to phone Max's wife and speak with her in an honest, straightforward manner. Max and the rest of the group listened to his wife over the speaker phone as she related the tragic tale of how Max had taken his daughter with him to a bar on a cold winter night, left her in the car while he went into establishment, and forgot that she was there while he drank with his buddies until 2 a.m. The car had long
since stalled, and when he returned to his vehicle his daughter was suffering from hypothermia. The wife continued that the little girl had lost her hearing in both ears because of her night spent in her father's freezing vehicle.
Brennan Manning describes Max's convulsing form as his wife shares the incredible news. Max had been living a lie, and had repressed the fact that he had injured someone that he really cared about with his terrible addiction. He just couldn't bring himself to admit that he had a problem until he was faced with it's tragic effects in front of a group of his peers.
Sometimes we are just like Max. We often won't admit that we have a sin problem until it finally is shown to us in it's most tragic light. Fact is, without a relationship with Jesus Christ, every one of us has the potential to be just like Max. It might not be alcohol, but sin left unchecked will always take us down a road that we may have never meant to take, and will always cost us more than we ever wanted to pay.
Only Jesus can turn that around!
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." John 10:10
Have a great day and God bless!
