It Shall Vanish Away…

It Shall Vanish Away…

How does one love another person right where they stand? What if that person is standing in hell – and refuses to leave? He wants to leave, he knows he needs to leave but his mind, heart and strength are bound by the chains of hell – then what?

Should we enter into hell with them? Yes, yes we should. When it gets ugly, and it will, should we continue to meet the person on their level in order to get their attention? Or should we allow the devil to continue to speak through the person that he has bound?

It may be wrong but, I believe, fighting for the release of another soul to be released from the chains of addiction is worth the battle. Sometimes when counseling people who’ve just made a decision to leave their active addiction, and leave behind the life they know so well, sometimes it feels like counseling directly with the devil. The hardness of heart, the bent mind and their steadfast willingness to stay in the lie is something to behold. While sitting right in front of them explaining how the Truth works, what the Truth is and reasons for accepting the Truth, only to see them shut down, turn off and turn away is like nothing you can imagine.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:1 KJB

If you have ever been to hell, then you already understand the facts about hell only begin to reveal themselves when it is way too late. To hear the door close behind you, to realize darkness has removed all Light and to see and feel the chains of bondage for the first time is the most terrifying situation we can find ourselves. Then comes the thought – Can I get out of this? How did I get here? What happened to my life?

Even with this as a backdrop another new low begins to unfold. The chains tighten, the darkness deeps and another lock is added to the door.

When attempting to work with someone dealing with all this they usually aren’t concerned with any thoughts, suggestions or attempts to drag them out. The love / hate relationship they find themselves is as comfortable as an old sweater – they want to curl-up in their chair and just let it all go by. Death becomes an acceptable idea, an alternative to the hell they, currently, find themselves.

Charity never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:8 KJB

Then the time comes. We, on the outside of hell, must take the gloves off, jump down into hell and start fighting. Continue to remind them I’m not going anywhere until you go with me. Continue to remind them they are loved and that love is a free gift. Continue to remind them they are worth fighting for. Continue to SHOW them trust, even in the face of lies. Continue to SHOW them respect in the face of disgraceful behavior. Continue to SHOW them mercy when they themselves place their neck in the noose. Continue to STAND right next to them, regardless of how dark, how ugly, how brutal the space becomes. They are a child of God. They are your brother, or sister, in Christ. They are loved – by you. They make a difference in this world and God needs them to do their part to glorify His Kingdom.

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:12-13 KJB

Either the Scripture is the divine Word of God teaching us how to live and how to be a reflection of God, or it’s nothing more than a historical account of events.