At this time, I would like to address a specific 'Warning' that is found in the Bible. I am compelled to do so because I can personally attest to how very easily one can, very easily, fall into this particular Warning's grasp. Looking back I can now understand why God used Paul not once, but twice to pull our attention to this 'danger' which we assuredly will meet on this earth-to-glory road. 

'Weariness'.  A 'Warning', nestled in Galatians 6:9 and again in 2Thess 3:13, is one that one could easily overlook, quickly by-pass. I say this because I have read my Bible. And I have read both of these scriptures many times. However, caught-up in the tumult of 'living' and dealing with so many different concerns I fell short. I am not giving an excuse just relating truthfully what happened. Only - only for an instant I side-tracked but, in that instant I caused much damage.  

What is an 'Addiction'? One can be addicted in various forms with their addiction encompassing much more than the need for drugs. Webster's Dictionary defines 'Addiction' in part as, '...dependence on a commitment to a habit, practice or habit-forming substance....'  It also defines the 'Addict' as, '...one who addicted to a substance, activity or habit...to cause to become physiologically or psychologically dependent...' I have a son, who is an addict. He has an 'addiction'. He is addicted to the 'street life'. There is something about the atmosphere of it that gives him a sense of security and comfort. If you take the time to read his bio and his work on authorsden.com, you will find there, an acknowledgement of this addiction...this weakness. But you will also find the strong desire to be free of it.  

In December 2013, Asa, having just been released after 5 years of incarceration, returned to Atlanta, Georgia following an approved trip up North. There were no employment prospects and the opportunities, which he had hoped would support his artistic talents, did not materialize. Asa is not an extrovert. He is not a friendly person, but he is a true friend. He was continuously receiving calls from up North re-establishing the comradeship which he did not find in Atlanta - something that was so needed at that particular time in his 'transition'. I wasn't enough. My words of encouragement were not enough, he needed more. Even the fact that, over a period of time, he has grown from atheistic beliefs to a belief in Jesus Christ did not work. It did not work because a belief in Jesus Christ wasn't enough...he had yet to 'surrender' his life to Christ. That is to say, spiritually, he was not strong. He became bored, impatient. He began to pace, was restless and disheartened. And, although we had talked much during his incarceration, his 'addiction' weighed heavily on him.  

It was at this point that I should have heeded the 'Warning', that I had read so many times, but I didn't...I completely forgot about it. I couldn't believe that, having just been released after five years of being deprived of the main-stream socialization process behind bars, he would even ‘consider’ going back up North for an extended time! Going back to a negative environment where it had been proven, time and time again, he would end up back in jail. But he received a call from one of his 'friends' and he asked me to go and picked up the money from western union and buy him the ticket from greyhound...he wanted to leave. I had been there for him since he was a youngster. I had been there through his juvenile, teenage, young adult and now, his grown-man years. I had stood beside him through it all, never wavering or flinching. But in that hour, when perhaps he needed me most I lost my faith, I grew 'Weary'.  I had forgotten that I, at one time, had contributed to his ‘unstable’ foundation. I forgot he was an 'addict'. I forgot he wasn't strong enough to say 'no'...yet. I was hurt and disappointed by his decision and I felt betrayed because we had often talked about him never going to jail again. So in my anger, I decided, ‘if he wants to go...let him go!’ I picked up the money and bought the ticket and he left. He went back to the place where...failure awaited him.  

He, of course, met a girl, but he also met an older guy, who seemed to befriend him. Asa has always been a sucker for older guys...you know, it’s the search for the 'father figure' that has never ended.  Asa and his girlfriend followed this guy to his hometown in PA. One night, he and the guy argued and he turned from Dr. Jekyll into Mr. Hyde. He called Asa a 'nigger', told him he was going to put him under the jail, called the cops and accused Asa of many things, which were not true . To make a long story short, Asa is back in jail, desperately needs a lawyer, which we can't afford, and I'm here desperately regretting my hour of 'Weariness'. Inevitably, I often think; what would have happened if I had refused to pick up the money or buy the ticket? What if I, in that instant, hadn't grown 'Weary' and stood my ground? This is something I'll never know...the damage has been done.  

If you had asked me a few years ago whether I would have done that or not I would have told you emphatically...'no'! But this just goes to show how well we don't know ourselves. This 'Weariness' that Paul speaks about can surely show up, out of the blue. It is a 'Warning' that one needs to be aware of, especially if one has been standing against the 'plough' for a long time. It doesn't mean that you stop loving or caring. It means that for an instant you lose sight of the 'hope' that rides within for a particular situation. It means, at that particular time you give in, to discouragement and anger, when you should hold on.  

However, if this has been or ever becomes your shortcoming, please remember all is not lost. For the Word of God was made for 'shortcomings'. The Blessed Word of God was written for the likes of me and Asa and for all others that have grown weak and fallen on their journey. When we turn to Him, Jesus Christ is more than able to pick us up and put us back on our predestined course. And we are strengthened when we know that God is a Loving and Forgiving Father, who will never turn His back on us. We are revived when we recall that Calvary was for us. It is at this point that Heaven's inspired word from Romans 3:23 speaks encouragement into our lives; '...for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God...' And also from Romans 8:28 '...for we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose...'  

So it is that I, who was no better or worse than my son, and Asa press forward together. We are still writing, still trusting and still clinging to Jesus, with the both of us having learned a significant lesson about the very real Danger of…Weariness. 

 Gal 6:9, 2Thess 3;13

copyright; jmsbell;8/13/2014