THE GREATEST ESCAPE !!!

“Anyone here!” I shouted, stumbling half-asleep through the small, sparsely furnished house located in the low-rent district of a large southern city.

 I awoke to find the house empty. My two friends had disappeared. We were planning to begin our trip out West that day, and I couldn’t imagine where they could be.

 I stepped out on the porch, and to my surprise my suitcases were lined up against the wall. My eyes fell on a note attached to one of the suitcases. “Good luck, Charles. We owe everything we have to our god.”

 Panic seized me. Slowly, however, my panic turned to bitterness. I had been

used! My so-called friends had “flimflammed” me out of every cent I had except for the $100 I still carried in my wallet.

 A feeling of desperation swept through me as I reviewed my hopeless situation. I was a 25-year-old, college-educated drug addict and alcoholic. I had nowhere to go and to make the situation totally irreparable, I had lost everything I owned.

 I felt trapped! Trapped by my own willful rebellion toward anything that was right and good. My parents had begged me to reform, and friends had warned me to slow down my fast-paced living. But to them all, I had sullenly retorted, “Get off my back, I know how to live my life. I don’t need you to tell me how!”

 As a child, I was exposed to religion through attending church with my family, but the formalism and “good works” doctrine only succeeded in confusing me. When the void in my life was not filled by religion, I had put other things in my life.

 Sports had become my god, and I had involved myself in every sport possible. My athletic success culminated my senior year in high school when I was named an All-Conference basketball player in South Carolina and was awarded a scholarship to play basketball at a college in North Carolina.

College

Because of my popularity as a college basketball player, I encountered intense peer pressure to do things I had never done before. I succumbed to the pressure to drink, and by the end of my first year at college I was a confirmed alcoholic at the age of 19.

 I returned for my second year to find many of my friends using drugs. Again wishing to gain their acceptance, I dropped my athletic scholarship and plunged into the drug culture for what was the beginning of six horrible, empty years.

 During this time, I experimented with every drug imaginable – hashish, hash oil, Quaaludes, cocaine, heroin, barbiturates and amphetamines. I took over 100 LSD trips and smoked pot until my fingers turned brown. Through my drug connections, I easily learned the “business” of drug distribution and eventually became a successful drug dealer in order to keep up my own habit.

 I was further enticed into the drug scene as I partied with popular rock musicians and was captivated by their hedonistic existence.

Twilight Zone

I finally graduated from college with a degree in physical education. I was so “high” on graduation day, that my friends laughingly called me the “Twilight Zone.”

 My drug-possessed life-style had begun to deplete me physically and emotionally. I decided to move back home and try to reform, but my problems followed me. Within months, I was involved in smuggling large quantities of cocaine from South America to the States. I became a heavy cocaine user, and my life reached a new low. Often, I would cry myself to sleep at night, afraid of dying and of what life after death might reveal. I would awaken in the morning almost surprised to find myself still living. My memory became so clouded from drug abuse that I would function days at a time without recalling where I had been or what I had done.

 One night I met a young lady who asked me, “Charles, you’re not happy, are you?” Outwardly I looked happy, but on the inside I ached.

 Deciding to be uncommonly honest, I said, “No.” She replied, “You need to meet God!” I was stunned at her statement, for she was undoubtedly one of the most wicked young ladies I had ever met. I laughed and sneered, “A girl like you telling me I need to meet God? You need to meet God!” The girl warned me not to laugh, but handed me a phone number where I could reach her.

 I had no intention of talking to the girl again, but for two weeks I couldn’t dismiss from my mind the thought of meeting God. “Perhaps this is the answer to my emptiness,” I ventured to think. I finally called the girl and set a time to meet her.

Satan Worshipers

When I arrived at the house, I was ushered into a strange-looking room. On the walls were pictures in praise to Beelzebub, Satan, Prince Most High. The girl introduced me to one of her friends who had a long, flowing black beard and the most piercing eyes I had ever seen.

 As I spent time with these people, I witnessed their powers when they performed supernatural feats in their satanic rituals. I experienced deep fear at the pervading evil that surrounded them, but I was too intrigued to leave.

 They attributed their powers to their “god” and explained that I could have the same power if I would quit my job, sell everything I had and give all my money to them. They would then take me to the West Coast and introduce me to god.

 I was so excited about the prospect of meeting God that the next day I quit my job, sold my car and told my parents I was going out West. They tried to reason with me about the foolishness of my actions, but as usual I shouted, “Leave me alone, I know what I’m doing!” and rudely left them standing at the door.

 The next few days, I thought I had reached the ultimate high as I smoked dope and was awed by my friends’ supernatural powers. I felt secure in their friendship. The third night we collected our possessions and made plans to leave the following morning. I fell asleep that night greatly anticipating my new life out West. That evening was the last time I saw my two friends.

Reality

I continued to stand there on the porch and stare, seeing nothing but my futile plight. I had tried to find fulfillment in sports, popularity, unrestrained pleasures, and finally, the occult – only to find that I had trapped my life in complete despair.

 Engulfed with anguish, I decided that I would find a drug dealer, purchase $100 worth of barbiturates and go to sleep forever!

 I turned from the porch and wandered aimlessly through the house. As I walked past the TV set in the living room, I absently flipped it on. I started to walk on, but my attention was arrested by the words, “Someone out there needs help.” I turned toward the TV screen. “God loves you”, the man continued. He seemed to speak directly to me as his kind face reinforced his compassionate, yet urgent words.

 Tears welled up in my eyes. Nobody loves me, I thought. The preacher proceeded to affirm, “No matter who you are or what you’ve done, God loves you. If you will ask forgiveness for your sins and accept Jesus Christ into your life, He can change it.”

 At these words, I fell to the floor, weeping freely. I understood for the first time that here was my escape from the void and the tragic circumstances in my life.

 “Dear God,” I cried aloud, “I’m so bad, so bad! I can’t see you, but I need you! And the best way I know how, I turn from my sins and give my life to you.”

Peace at Last

I stayed on my knees for a long time, sensing a great release from the guilt and sin of 25 years. Peace such as I had never known filled my heart.

 I finally stood to my feet without knowing what to do or where to go. The name of a high school friend who was now a preacher flashed into my mind. I immediately called James and told him what had happened.

 He was overjoyed as he explained that he had been praying for me for a long time. He realized the helpless predicament I was in and invited me to move in with his family.

 Living with a preacher was quite an experience! It made me realize just how much needed to be changed in my life. With the Lord’s help I overcame my addiction to drugs and alcohol with little trace of any permanent physical damage.

 Gradually, my habits, language and interests changed. I became an avid reader of God’s Word and books concerning practical Christian living. A consuming desire to tell others of God’s love grew within me, and I developed into an aggressive, successful soul-winner.

 Because of my love of sports, I felt that I could best serve the Lord as a Christian coach in a college athletic program. Yet, deep inside, I was convicted that God was calling me to preach. Finally, after an intense struggle, I unreservedly surrendered my life to the ministry.

 In preparation for that call, I commenced my seminary training. While at seminary, God continued His direction in my life by blessing me with the wife of His choice. The Lord’s blessings were endless as He met our financial needs, provided ample opportunities for Christian service and eventually gave us a wonderful gift of love – a beautiful baby boy!

Purpose in Life

The Lord has continued the renovation process in my life – replacing old habits and desires with a new motivation to please Him.  I am fully convinced that those whose lives have been trapped through the enticements of Satan can experience the escape that is provided in the redeeming love of our Savior. I have found that the fulfillment for which I had so ardently searched is found in complete surrender to His will.

He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Psalm 40:2, 3.