The real thing!

Psalm 16:11

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

I've been pondering this for a couple days now. Why do folks want to get drunk or high on drugs......or both? I speak from experience, I was not a novice in this area. I started smoking pot and drinking when I was 12, popping pills at 14, cocaine at 15, and LSD at 16 or 17. Don't quote me, as those years were pretty much a blur, which was the desired effect. I can say the drugs and the alcohol were anesthetic for the pain I was in from being a molested during childhood. My molester was the one who introduced me to pot and alcohol. But, as I grew older it was the "high" I was most addicted to. Even folks in prison will make their own intoxicant using whatever they can find to use. Guards look the other way usually and as soon as they get out of work they're heading to the bar or to pick up some intoxicant of their own. Now, looking back, I know that all of it was a substitute for the presence of God. I realize now that I was so longing for His presence that I was willing to do anything to fill that void in my life. The devil has been clever in his ways. He's told those who've accepted his counterfeits that if they ever come to Christ, they'll have to give it all up. Little do they know that they'll be trading in the counterfeit for the real. Many refuse to come to Christ because they don't want to give up that "feeling" that the intoxicant gives them. Very sad. See, as David wrote in the verse above, in HIS presence is fullness of joy. There will NEVER be fullness of joy in your life until you enter into the presence of God. That's why now when I'm tempted to drink or do drugs, it has little to no appeal to me. Why would I trade the real for a counterfeit? It's like if I came to you and said, "Hey, I'll give you this counterfeit $20 bill for your real $100 bill." You'd probably give me a good slap......hehehehe. And I'd deserve it for even thinking you'd be dumb enough to trade me good money for bad. When you begin praising God, even in your house alone, you begin to enter into His presence as He has said that He inhabits the praise of His people. When He hears you singing about Him, to Him, He's got to come and be a part of it. Eeeeeeeeeeeeee glory! Isn't that wonderful? In His presence is truly fullness of joy!!! Sorry for the tardiness of the post......was out and about my Father's business today. Have a great night and God bless. :-) PJ