By Dale Linton
This verse holds the foundational keys that explain the mystery of addiction.
2Peter 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
Let's begin by examining some truths in life that build a foundation for which addiction thrives:
First, each and every one of us are attracted to and stimulated by the substance of the Earth. By substance I'm speaking of things like a new car, money, a new boyfriend or girlfriend,or a drug.
Secondly, the same substances which attracted and stimulated us does not have the ability to sustain the stimulation or excitement we felt when we first attached ourselves to them.
The inability of a substance to offer permanent satisfaction may be explained in a couple of ways:
The substance of the Earth is temporal and so it can only offer temporary satisfaction.
We are choosing something from the natural realm, (substance of the Earth) to feed a spiritual desire, (the need to become happy) and this will not work. Unfortunately, the endeavor to feed something spiritual with something natural creates more dysfunction the longer we're in this method of operation. Each time we fail to fulfill what we're looking for we become progressively worse. The greatest pitfall is not the problem itself, it is in not knowing there is a worsening in us as we're making these mistakes.
2 Peter 2:19 has three telling words:
Servant, Bondage, Overcome
What is a Servant?
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
We are a servant to anyone or anything we yield to or obey.
What is Bondage?
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage
Bondage is a form of slavery.
What does it mean to be Overcome?
The next verse answers this question: 2Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
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Our biblical word bondage aligns itself perfectly in character with the modern day word addiction. The following description will hopefully leave little doubt.
Galatians 5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage
Why is the word bondage aligned with the word yoke?
A yoke is something used to join two animals together for the purpose of keeping their forces headed in the same direction. The important point is that the yoke "joins together". Likewise, whatever we put our hope in, we join together with or bond to.In the same way we've become bound to the object of our hope, we also become a servant of this object, because we are in debt to the power we believe it has to satisfy our needs. In other words we tend to obey it. The key is, all this is happening without us really thinking about it, or more importantly we're not aware this is true.
2 Peter 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
What does it mean to be brought in bondage?
The verse reads that by whom a man is overcome, or made worse, he is brought in bondage. It means the vehicle this man is riding in that transports him to being overcome is called bondage. It also means this vehicle called bondage that is transporting his condition to become worse, obeys no speed limits and the brakes are no longer functioning. Finally the door locks will not release as this vehicle called bondage has enslaved it's occupant demanding they drive on. Now the reality is they're no longer driving, the vehicle is driving them and they have become its servant. One last point here: if all this is happening and we're not aware of it, then by the time we realize we're in such a vehicle it's to late because it has already trapped us. This is addiction!
How is it that while most of us have experienced this failure to choose anything that will sustain our desires, we keep right on choosing? The driving force is our quest for happiness. It is quite natural and instinctive and yet it eludes us creating a life time of bad decisions and dysfunction. Of these dysfunctions, the epidemic of addiction is only one in a long list of societal problems facing us today. The truth is we all have a flaw within us as we believe we have the ability and the control over our lives to obtain and retain happiness. However, we lack the knowledge, wisdom and understanding of spiritual matters, especially concerning ourselves.
I have a desire to see the body of Christ edified. Within the broad spectrum of edification I feel there exists a great need and opportunity for spiritual education at foundational levels. Please contact me about speaking at your church. Dale Linton 410-378-5035 or dale@agapesolutions.org
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