Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Wolf in Sheep's Clothing (11/21/13)
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TITLE: Promises Promises Promises | Previous Challenge Entry
By Graham Insley
11/27/13 -
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We humans are always looking for a way of escape; from the pressures of life, from the reality that so often surrounds us and from the often unavoidable consequences of our own behaviour. We make really bad choices and then spend heaps of energy and money trying to change the result of those choices. That's why escape is a multimillion dollar enterprise.
Every town in nearly every country is full of businesses that help you to escape from your problems. Some, within and of themselves, are harmless enough. The local picture theatre might show a great movie and a playground and coffee shop combine to give mothers a break while the kids play. Or maybe a nice treat at the local ice-creamery will give you something delicious to think about for a little while. But even these innocent activities can become wolves masquerading as harmless lambs.
The same picture theatre that projected Mickey Mouse can be used to show movies of graphic violence, gratuitous sex and mad irresponsible driving. How many kids go to the movies expecting to escape some of life's pressures for a few hours, but come out of the theatre and drive like idiots as they imitate their favourite action star -- and become a road statistic.
The coffee drinkers, teaspoon of sugar in one hand and cream biscuit in the other, can destroy entire lives as they become engrossed in their local gossip. At the ice-creamery many become addicted to their favourite tasting sweet and become completely subjugated as their size increases to the same degree that their self image disintegrates. And we are only discussing the lighter side of escapism. Drugs, alcohol, and child/spouse abuse are far more graphic means by which people try to get away from their reality.
We have to ask a serious question here; is it really working? Do we really escape or simply postpone, at best, what must eventually be faced? And sometimes even postponement doesn't happen.
Alcohol and drugs can escalate the issue as they bring on violent and extreme behaviour. Many emotional addictions are every bit as bad, if not worse, than chemical addiction. And these so called 'escapes' can lead to time spent in jail. So where is the escapism actually leading us?
The promise of escape is simply the false offering of a candy to a kid in the street; it leads to stranger danger and possible destruction. Wouldn't we be better off standing up to the issues and facing the problems?
I want to make a sharp change in direction here and suddenly start talking about 'me' rather than 'we'. My personal testimony is that I have been involved in many of these 'escapes' and, to be honest, they never helped me to escape from anything. The promises they held in their hands were nothing but lies. They were the sirens of a false god, wolves in sheep's clothing, luring me to believe that everything would be better if I just heeded their call. Thank God that I found out the Truth.
After many years of being abused and becoming an abuser, after struggles with alcohol and extreme reactions to others, I ended up in jail and had no choice but to face the issues or die in despair. That's when and where I met my Saviour.
Jesus became the road block that stopped me running down the road to hell. He became the reason why I no longer need to escape from anything. I can now face up to the issues of life knowing that I am at least loved and wanted by Someone.
Why would I want to escape from that?
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Since the fall there has been a hole inside of mankind where God belongs. We try to fill that hole with some many other things when we don't know that it's God, and His love, that belongs there. We will always be our own worst enemy until we allow Him back into our lives.
You illustrate that point so perfectly in this testimony. Thank you so much for sharing it, and sharing it with such great writing that captivates the reader right up to the end.
Great job!
Excellent job.
God bless~