Idolatry – jonbags31 HOF Speech
What would the world look like if…
We gave our time, devotion, energy, money, commitment, hope and honor to ending world hunger? Or perhaps making sure that everyone had clean water to drink? Making sure that every kid a good meal, clothes, a kiss goodnight? Single mom’s having enough food to provide for their children or maybe a guy to have a catch with their son?
What would the world look like men if we cared about our wives, children and communities HALF as much as dip? Scary to think about.
Nope. Not us. Not yet anyway!
Rather we put our time, energy, money, commitment, hope and paid a high honor to something that hates us. That has robbed us of life.
How the hell did this happen?
Idolatry. We worshipped at the feet of nicotine. To us, the word idolatry brings up pictures of cave people bowing and chanting to a statue. Did we not do the same? Did we not praise dip? Look forward to it? Did we not sacrifice and prioritize our lives around our god? At first, nicotine gave us a great feeling. We went back for more and more. One or two cans a day, falling asleep to it and waking back up to it. Enough never becomes enough, try to leave and nicotine put it’s foot down and demanded that we stay.
Timothy Keller shares this in his book, Counterfeit gods, “A counterfeit god is anything so central to your life that, should you lose it, your life would hardly feel worth living. An idol has such a controlling position in your heart that you can spend most of your passion and energy, your emotional and financial resources on it without a second thought.” Sound familiar? Keller goes on to explain that we relate to our idols in three ways: we love, trust and obey them. What used to give me excitement was that I new I had a time to be alone with a dip. I loved it. I knew that dip was going to be there for me no matter what and that a bad day was fixed with dip. I trusted dip. The longest I ever went without a dip was eight hours. The feeling I had after 24 was amazing because I couldn’t imagine my life without dip. I obeyed dip.
Simply put, whatever controls us is our Lord. Idols dominate our lives.
I now know that I am an addict. I am no better than an alcoholic, meth addict or whatever drug you have used when you said, “well at least it’s not…”. I know that I will struggle with this one day at a time. I am aware of the triggers, mind games and lies that will come at me and try to draw me back to slavery. I can’t say that I never will go back. I can’t say that I will never cave… The beauty of all this is that I don’t have to. Just today. One day I quit. I quit today in fact.
I am convinced of this:
If you are reading this and imagining life without nicotine: what are you waiting for? Nicotine is no friend of yours. It is a slave master dictating and wasting your life. It is an idol that we chose to worship and one the we chose to stay in bondage to. Right now is a great time to regain control. You can live without it. You can really live, actually.
Just try it, post roll and forget trying to quit for forever. All you need is one day. You can do it.
My quit would not have happened without my wife telling me about this site. In no way would I have stayed quit without you all. This site is truly a miracle. I can not thank you enough.
In particular, DChogs who quit with me everyday. BusterT (who I am mildly afraid of) for the texts and encouragement. Aceinthehole, Bowman and Leppy. For some reason May 25, 2011 we all decided to change our lives. 100 is ONLY the start. We did it fellas. Leppy, besides coming home alive, I can’t imagine a better gift to give your family! Thank you for your service to our country!
Finally.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. STAND FIRM, and do not let yourselves be burdened by slavery again. Galatians 5:1
One day at a time.
May the Grace and Peace of Jesus be with you all.
NOTE: This piece written by KillTheCan.org forum member jonbags31
