Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Birth (infancy) (08/20/09)
-
TITLE: A New Beginning | Previous Challenge Entry
By Rebecca Moran
08/20/09 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
On the flip side, they both worked as equally hard making, selling and using methamphetamines. They had two sets of friends. The ‘family’ friends knew them as fun loving, honest and hard working. The ‘other’ friends knew them as users and their suppliers. Meth had ruled them for 12 years and was beginning to take its toll. The family friends sensed that something was wrong and began to pray for intervention. It did not matter that they were more popular with their meth friends, prayers from the family began to work.
Chris and Erin finally realized they were in denial and had to make a change. Without anyone knowing, they checked themselves into a rehabilitation program. It was only a 30 day program, but at least it was a start. Not having known prior to admission, but it was a 30 day Faith based rehab. Chris and Erin had heard of Jesus before, in fact, Erin was raised in a Christian home. She had long ago met this Jesus that they are talking about in rehab, but had gotten away from him some time ago. Chris did not want any part of religion and fought Erin daily to leave. Erin would not budge, she wanted help. She wanted to have a life of freedom, free from the bondage of drugs and of that lifestyle. She clang to every word the counselor said. When it was time for chapel, Erin was full of excitement. A new beginning was all she could think of, she pleaded with Chris to get on board with her in their new life together. She would get so wrapped up in the message, she would forget Chris was sitting right beside her. His arms were folded and eyes closed, she thought he was being rebellious, she began to weep for him. Why couldn’t he experience the same joy she felt? Why couldn’t he just let go of the past and move on? Soon after, she began to pray for him.
The next day, Chris informed Erin that he was going back home. She began to cry and begged him not to leave. He told her he knew what he had to do to shake this drug addiction and walked out the door. Heartbroken, Erin fell to the floor in tears. She prayed for protection and wisdom over Chris and begged God to bring him back. The next day she received a call from family saying Chris had been involved in a horrible car accident, he was alive, but their oldest daughter and nephew were killed instantly.
You see Chris had been paying attention all of those times Erin thought he wasn’t. He would imagine sitting at the feet of Jesus and dreamed of hearing “well done thou good and faithful servant”. Chris knew he would not hear those words living the lifestyle he was living. He knew he must get back to town and move his family away. He needed a new beginning and his family deserved it. Now that Hailey was gone at the age of 13, he wanted to live right and make sure he saw her in heaven.
Two weeks later, Chris got out of the hospital and he and Erin attended church. This time, Chris sit straight up in the chair, hands on his bible and eyes wide open on the pastor. At the alter call, Chris and Erin trampled over half of the aisle trying to get to the pastor, they had too much at stake to wait another minute for salvation. From that day forth, every time I read 2 Corinthians 5:17, their names are all over that scripture. “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” NLT.
No matter what the other friends may say about Chris and Erin, on August 8, 2007, they got a new beginning in life. That was the day they accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
