The dynamics of discipleship (part 6)

Therefore if any man (or woman) is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new. – II CORINTHIANS 5:17

At 33 years old I was an absolute mess, having squandered a multi-million dollar business my father worked so hard to build and I sold out for pennies on the dollar to my brother.

Hopelessly addicted to cocaine, spending up to $2000 a week, and taking multiple opiates to mellow out as well as smoking grass, hash, and opium, not to mention my growing addiction to alcohol, I was a train wreck.

I had become a habitual liar, thief and amateur drug dealer, selling exotic grass and coke of which I did most of, something that is a no-no if you are going to make any money.

One night I was putting together a half-million-dollar marijuana deal that would ultimately set me free of any financial woes I had created by my addictions when a man knocked on my door and came in to tell me about Jesus. After proclaiming the gospel he asked me, “Do you believe God will save you tonight?”

If anyone needed saving it was me and I answered, “Yes!”

Dropping to my knees, I asked the Lord to save me and He did and the man left and I felt like a million pounds was lifted off of my shoulders, my burden of sin washed away by the blood of Jesus. The next day I realized that my vile mouth was cleansed, no more profanity, a miracle of deliverance, and on the road to becoming a new creation in Christ.

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. – II CORINTHIANS 5:21