THE BEST KEPT SECRET ABOUT ADDICTION
When you mention names like Kareem Abdul-
Jabbar, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Michael
Jordan, Shaquile O’Neal, look closely there could
have been a Christopher among the 50 Greatest
Players in the history of NBA. Sadly Christopher
didn’t get to the list; truth is he didn’t even get
to play in the NBA. Fast forward twenty years
after, Christopher now Pastor Chris Delvan
shares in his compelling sermon on the 5th
of June at TWB, on how cigarette smoking took
away his basket ball dream, and how drugs took
away his music dream. An addiction can be fun
in the immediate, but could be cost you
something vital in the long run?
Chris had a noble dream as a teenager to play
for the NBA, which was his ticket to live the life
of his dreams, but he smoked twice as much
cigarettes, as he worked hard to improve his
basketball skills. One day a sudden opportunity
came when the NBA team came by his
neighbourhood in Kaduna to select players.
Everyone knew Christopher was an exceptional
player and would definitely make the list. But
one thing Christopher and his teammates didn’t
know was that his lungs had degenerated
terribly. He attempted to run, but couldn’t. He
was often exasperated, wheezing uncontrollably
and coughing hysterically. “Maybe he was just
tired” his coach thought. But Christopher knew
this was pay day; his tiredness was a symptom
of damaged lungs, it was the culmination of
years of smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. He
finally quit cigarettes, but sadly only after he had
quit his dreams.
In his narrative, Pastor Chris Delvan said, life can
hardly exist in a vacuum, we are constantly
under certain influences and our urge for props,
stuff, adventure, substances, alcohol, among
others is ever present. Our generation is one at
risk to be an addict generation; there is no
shortage of options to get hooked on; some
people are at the point where they are
unconsciously developing one addiction, some
are currently grappling with one, while some are
struggling to get out of one.
It can be difficult battling addiction, as often we
relapse and our resolve to fight dissolves, leading
us to relinquish and settle into a life of slavery
that addiction offers. Our entertainment lacks no
creativity to churn out episodes of interesting
soap operas and sitcom that engages us to the
point of redundancy; sooner or later we are
hooked. Some are hooked to sugar, other
substances, some adventure, some success,
some binge, sex and pornography. But none of
these satisfies; they only provide momentary
pleasure and relief, not long after we indulge our
thirst for more returns. Truth is, not all
addictions are sinful, but most are costly.
Unfortunately most of the addictions in life take
something away from us. They cost us our
dreams, health, relationships, careers and even
life.
Every human thirst for stuff is an expression of
an innate desire to connect with our Father.
Christ offers a different kind of addiction; He is
the only addiction that adds to you. In Christ we
find the addiction to end all addiction, one that
truly satisfies, saves and replenishes. in John 4;
14 “But the water I give them takes away thirst
altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within
them, giving them eternal life.” The longing to
quench our dry soul can be powerful. In Rev
22:17 says “If you are thirsty, come! If you want
life-giving water come and take it. It’s free.”
Each of us is now a part of his resurrection
body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain-his
Spirit-where we all come to drink- 1 Cor 12:13.
Wouldn’t you check out his offer?

Hmm

Good