Where'd my old friends go?

Over the years, I've had a number of bad habits, hurts, and hang-ups. I started smoking when I was 14. Drinking because it was cool, marijuana because other friends were doing it. Cocaine because it was the next in line. Back to drinking because I was in the military. Back to marijuana after the military, which gave me an introduction into meth. Stopped that because the price of jail time was looming in front of me...The list continues, bear in mind that last one was 13 years ago. There's more, lots of alcohol, playing with pills, anger, some mild depression. I've done a lot to myself over the years.

Through most of this there has usually been a friend or 2 either dragging me with them, or me dragging them along. Let me be clear about one thing, I let them drag me, and they let me drag them. I can honestly say that there are a few who have, if not necessarily stuck with me, at least returned to me as our paths crossed again. Some through different social sites, are old high school friends. Others, because I've just been in the same geographical area for almost 20 years and they didn't leave either so when we needed support of a particular kind, there we were.

The ones that are still around have walked through there own fires and come out on the other side. One I particularly admire because, when we were kids, he was Christian then and never stopped. Even when we were smoking and drinking he still seemed to maintain his faith. Today it seems stronger then ever. I'm sure he's had his trials over the years. Another from high school has found a measure of success in his career, I believe he's on his second marriage, and it seems strong at this time. But, as he said, he's never found his "spagetti monster". Which is a line from some movie or another that states he's never found religion. We were friends on a social site for a time, but somewhere religion came up (I believe it was me) and my belief that Jesus is the ONLY way and that certain other ways are false.

Inevitably a conflict rose in this, him calling me intolerant and what about the whole Christian love thing and all the violent persecution done in the name of Christ. Ultimately, he "unfriended me". There is little I can do about that besides pray for him.

Then there was yesterday after Thanksgiving dinner when we were getting ready to leave my parents house and my brother in law tries to tell me to take a half bottle of wine with me because he won't get back to it before it turns to vinegar. I gently reminded him that I quit drinking when my sister starts talking about how I should put it in the trunk because of the whole open container thing. So I told her I don't want any sort of container in my car, openned or not. She took it well with an "Ufda" and a smack to her own forehead. Other reactions were more along the lines of discomfort to my friend who we had invited that was smiling about it.

These things will happen, the surprising fact is that these loving family members who have always been kind and supportive had no idea that they were throwing a temptation my way. They hadn't even noticed that I didn't get a beer or a glass of wine. This is the first Thanksgiving in many years that I didn't have at least a couple of drinks (I've always had to drive home).

When you make major changes in your life, you always have to remember that others around you haven't made the same ones. In fact, most people around you are so wrapped up in just getting by they make surprisingly few changes of any kind, let alone the major changes of sobriety and becoming a follower of Christ.

Because of this, they tend to become ready made tools of ones who would see your downfall. They will, unknowing, chip away at your core beliefs that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light. None may come to the Father except through Him. They will say that's fine for you but they just aren't like that. The more they believe that the truer it will become for them. But they won't be satisfied with that. My friend that "unfriended" me argues that we are closed minded and how do we know that there aren't other ways, why can't someone get to heaven just for being a "good person". Why can't other faiths be right as well? It only takes one line of the bible to tell you that the other faiths are either wrong, or we are. "None may come to the Father except through ME." When they here you say this, several things happen, especially if they're being guided by the adversary. They will call you intolerant. Say you are spreading hate. You are the problem.

This is when it is time to turn to Him, because it hurts when they say these things. Sometimes, you can see them shaking their heads as if you are the dense one, and its doubtful they've even openned a bible to see what is said. Another thing they will do is what I call "Pulling from the Atheist's playbook." This is any one of a number of verses from the bible that supposedly supports what they are saying. Maybe they bring up Leviticus and where it says to stone people. Maybe they bring up when God has told the Israelites to purge the land because He has given it to them. They will say this is proof of the violence and hatred.

What you do now is vitally important. Not for them, they are closed off. Their minds are made up and shut off about Christianity. Now you tell them about when Christ came, he changed all the rules. That he made a new commandment, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart mind soul and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself." Do this and you will follow the Lord your God as He wants us to.

Remember that you aren't doing this for them, you are doing this to strengthin your resolve and faith in the Lord. You are also following His instructions.
Luke 9:26
Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Mark 8:38
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
Some of these people will understand and will hear the truth. As Christians, we have been commanded to go forth.
Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Others will disappear, fall away like chaf in the reaping. This is something I have to accept about some people. They simply don't understand where I am coming from anymore. What I view as the truth the way and the light, they just don't see or believe.

I've sent another friend request to my friend from high school. Several days ago, as a matter of fact. But at this time he has put me on the side of the religious intolerant. I'll continue to pray that he sees the truth for himself from some source before it's too late. Until then, I'll pray, I'll read the word, I'll write about what is right. There will be others who I drank with and partied with that will fall away, and I'll pray for them. But I'll never back down from the truth.

Pray that the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit put the right words in my mind to turn stone hearts soft so they may recieve the Holy Spirit and know the love of the Lord. Pray the same for yourselves that you may be good witnesses to the unbelievers in your lives.