Drugs Are No Game

by Jonathan Spurlock
(Holts Summit, MO)

You’ve probably heard it all and seen it all when it comes to warnings about, “don’t do drugs” and so forth. Frankly, I’ve seen and heard a lot of them, and I’m sure glad someone told me about the dangers. Someone took the time to get the information out and thanks to those people.

But there are some who either don’t heed the warnings or wind up addicted or hooked on drugs anyway. I used to know one such person.

She’s a few years younger than I am, and even though we haven’t seen each other in decades, I still think about “Angie”—not her real name—from time to time. The few times we actually met, she impressed me by being just a gracious, sweet, and downright pretty young lady. We did live a good distance apart, though, and that really squelched any idea of, well, much of anything.

But I digress.

Earlier this year, I had the chance to meet up with most of my cousins and one of them knew “Angie” quite well. Now, after the several years of catching up with each other—several of us live many miles apart—I casually asked one cousin how “Angie” was doing.

Her response, though brief, spoke volumes. My cousin shook her head and told me about how “Angie’s” life had taken a nose dive after becoming addicted to drugs. I don’t remember if they were prescription drugs or not, but the picture my cousin showed me just about brought tears to my eyes. The photo showed a female, gaunt, with almost vacant eyes and I wondered aloud if she was still really there.

I’ll not repeat my cousin’s reply.

“Angie”, I doubt, ever dreamed she would end up like this. Does anyone ever really plan on becoming an addict, to anything? Who sets out to be known as “Most Likely To Get Hooked” or anything like that?

But it happened. Now, I know some folks can, and do, say, “I’ll never get hooked, it won’t happen to me, I can handle it”, and so forth. They say it, and I grant they’re sincere. Maybe.

But is it worth the risk?

The Devil gives each person a chance to “enjoy” life, living life “to the hilt”, or “having a ‘zest’ for life”—whatever that means—all as a substitute for a life invested in serving the Lord Jesus Christ. The Devil tempted Jesus on more than one occasion, even giving the Lord an invitation to convert to Satan-worship! And if you think he won’t stop with Jesus, rest assured, his invitations are coming. Could that include sampling drugs, alcohol, and other such things?

Indeed it could.

But are you willing to take the risk?