I asked the counselor why he couldn't stay sober if hew was an expert in recovery programs. He told me that he believed in recovery and the spiritual life but he did not have a spiritual life of his own. He could teach everyone else how to get sober but he could not stay sober himself.I asked the cop why he was in trouble if he was a law keeper. He said that he always believed in God and his law. That's why he was a cop, to make sure everyone else followed the law. But, he did not have his own spiritual life and as a consequence he himself could not follow the law.
I asked the preacher why he could not stay sober if he had faith. He said that believed wholeheartedly in God and the spiritual life. He could teach everyone else about theology and the spiritual life and administer this for them. But, he had lost his own spiritual life and he could not live rightly himself.
These guys taught me a simple lesson, "faith without works is dead".
This explained to me why so many people of faith were hypocrites, not because faith doesn't work but, because people don't do the work to get or keep their faith. It all made sense to me then and I had a feeling deep within that I could now find faith.
I had to learn this lesson for myself later down the road when I found recovery and had some time and lost it. I looked back at my program and saw that I had been thorough. I had several relapses and saw that each time the conditions prior to relapse were different except for one common thread. I had quit doing the spiritual work consistently and my faith had died.
Today I try and keep the spiritual life first above all things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:33
For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
James 2:26
