Pull It Out
Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, and you heart will utter perverse things. Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying: “They have struck me, but I was not hurt; they have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?” – Proverbs 23:31-35.
A woman in Darby, Pennsylvania was shopping for groceries when someone running by slapped her on the back of the neck. At least that is what Darlene Jones thought. She finished her grocery shopping and bought a newspaper before walking the half-mile back to her home. After Darlene returned home her daughter noticed something sticking out of her mother’s neck. It was the handle of a kitchen knife! When the daughter jerked out the knife Darlene began to bleed profusely, and they rushed her to the hospital. She did recover from her wound. The incident was described as a “random, vicious attack.”
It is amazing that someone could have a knife in their neck for so long and not know! Darlene would have eventually died from her wound if her daughter had not noticed the knife. Darby Police Chief Robert Smythe said, “Five or six people walked right past her without even noticing.”
How many people have been struck with an addiction and do not even know it? How many people have started drinking, or doing drugs, or looking at pornography and do not realize they have a wound that could destroy them? Most people can walk by them and would not notice their mortal wound. Even if someone does notice and questions the addict to try to help them usually they will at first try to deny their addiction.
In Proverbs 23:29, we are asked: “Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause?” The writer of Proverbs is talking about drinkers, but it seems to apply to all those with addictions. If you have an addiction you will have woe, sorrow, contentions, and complaints. Now is the time to pull the knife out and get help before it is too late.
Who is it that can help you? Jesus is the One who has the power to pull out the knife of addiction; He is the One, who can lift the burden from you. Jesus says to the addicted, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).”
(There is help if you have an addiction.)