A Bottle of Taylor's Port Wine

When I was 14, I stole a bottle of Taylor's port wine from my grandmother's bar, drank it in my bedroom, and then passed out on the floor. My drinking soon progressed to marijuana, and when I was 15, I tried hash, acid, and many other drugs. Getting drunk and high was my way of gaining acceptance. I knew I could always find somebody to be with and party with, if I was getting stoned or wasted. Besides, I liked the way it felt getting buzzed.

I'd get up on the weekend and have to ask one of my friends where we were the night before because I blacked out much of the evening. I continued this lifestyle through my twenties and in 1986 after 16 years of "just a couple more beers," a failed marriage, and job burnout, I was tired of life and considered suicide.

IS YOUR LIFE A MESS TOO?

ARE YOU UNHAPPY WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW?

ARE YOU SAYING, "THIS IS STUPID, WHY AM I EVEN READING THIS?"

WOULD YOU LIKE TO JUST TAKE A PILL AND WAKE UP ON THE OTHER SIDE?

IF YOU ANSWERED "NO" TO THESE QUESTIONS ---DON'T READ ANY FURTHER---

IF YOU ANSWERED "YES" TO ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTINUE READING.

I met a man named Brooks, who told me how God had helped him many years ago, overcome personal failures in his life. He asked me if I was saved. I asked, "Saved from what?" He then asked me if I believed in heaven. I answered, "Yes." He asked, "Are you going there and why?" I answered, "Yes, because I am basically a good person and never killed anyone."

He explained to me that the problems I was facing in my life were only symptoms of a greater problem. This greater problem was that I was a sinner and not in touch with God. I was spiritually dead and as a result I kept making mistake after mistake in my life. Brooks explained that Jesus says I need to be born again to escape future judgment for my sins and come into friendship with Him. By accepting Jesus as my Saviour, and repenting from my sins, is the only way I will get to heaven (Jn. 14:6; 3:3).

I thought that he was a fanatic and I would leave in a couple of days (I was staying with him for a few days while looking for a place of my own). But the more he talked, the more I realized that the things I saw as my problems, were really only symptoms of a greater problem, THAT I NEEDED JESUS IN MY LIFE. I needed to be born again. I decided to call on Jesus, and accept Him as my Lord and Saviour, then I was born again.

Once I called on Jesus as my Saviour, a funny thing happened. God removed the desire for alcohol and drugs from my life. I felt like I had been a slave to drugs and alcohol for 17 years and now, because of Jesus, I was free from this bondage. I have lived in this freedom for 11 years.