Page 13 - Overcoming Addiction

Consider for a moment how a serpent kills its prey. A serpent injects venom
inside the victim’s body, and this poison begins to spread death through the
entire body. Eventually the vital organs shut down and death results.
This too is a parable, revealing the manner in which Satan has poisoned
man’s being. Satan enticed the man and woman to eat of that which was
forbidden, and in doing so sin entered into their being. Sin always results in
death. It is a toxin that is present in all mankind from the day they are conceived.
The very seed of mankind is infected with sin, and so death and sin are the
portion of all who are born of the lineage of the first Adam.
The apostle Paul has aptly described the condition of all men under the
curse of sin.

Romans 7:18
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh...

When you and I are born, sin is already present within us. We are born
enslaved to the desires of the flesh. A child does not have to be taught to lust, and
covet, and act selfishly. No man needs to go out searching for an addiction, or an
enslaving desire. These things are present in our flesh, for we are all under the
curse of sin.

Romans 7:14
For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage
to sin.

I have met many addicts as I have lived and worked at a rescue mission.
Many have been struggling with addictions for as long as they can remember. I
have sat in meetings with them and heard them testify of their resolve to do
better, and to finally overcome the appetites of their flesh. I have watched these
same men fall, some almost immediately after purposing to not do so. I have seen
the look of resignation in the eyes of the more honest ones. They have given up
the delusion that they might somehow free themselves from their captivity by a
further act of willpower, or from some renewed commitment. The emotion of the
moment always fades away, and some moment of weakness comes and they fall
once more.
The first thing you must do in order to be set free from your slavery to the
appetites of the flesh is to agree with those things God has testified concerning
your condition.

Romans 3:10-12
As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who
understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned
aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does
good, no, not one."

It requires humility to agree with God concerning our human condition.
The proud man or woman wants to believe there is some good in them. They