If Jesus were not raised from the dead, the disciples were at best fools, and at worst, liars. What we know about the Christian life comes from the pen of men moved and guided by God to write the words we call the New Testament. The original apostles died martyrs’ deaths on the basis of their belief that the resurrection took place just as predicted, and that they saw Him alive again. If it were not true, then they were either duped, or else they fabricated the resurrection as a means to shore up the movement. But would they pay the ultimate price for a lie they had manufactured in order to have a job? Not so. Paul speaks of the absurdity of this in the following way: “And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ “(1 Cor. 15:14-15).
Jim Elliff

OD A Story Of Teenage Drug

OD A Story Of Teenage Drug

O. D.

A Story of Teenage Drug Addiction

by David R. Wilkerson

(George had been missing for three days. His mother sat by the phone hoping to hear from the search party. Across the room the minister was breathing a prayer. George had been a member of his church, having started attending at the age of eleven. He was a quiet sort of boy who minded his own business – was moody at times.

At the age of fifteen he started running around with the wrong crowd. It was at a dance that one of his friends put a “joint” of marijuana in his hand and told him to drag on it. At first he was scared and refused. But when he saw everyone else doing it – he tried it. The smoke swirled through his head. In five minutes he was dancing like a demon -he forgot his problems – he even forgot about God.

The next day he wanted to try it again. Big thrill “great kick – really packed a wallop. This time it chased away the blues. That night he was deathly sick – head throbbing, vomiting – he had to have another joint of “grass.” This was the first step toward a life of addiction.

He was now smoking one after another. Often six and seven at a time. But even seven joints didn’t “bug” him any more. The pusher said he felt sorry. He pulled out a small cellophane bag containing a fraction of an ounce of pure, white heroin. “Just sniff it up your nose,” he was told. “You’ll stay high for two days. It’s better – cheaper not habit forming. Marijuana is kid stuff. Try some “horse.” He took his first free sniff out of curiosity. It was everything the pusher said it would be. He felt like a king – his conscience didn’t bother him. He was fearless – he had a feeling of superiority.

The next day George was looking for another “deck” of heroin. It cost him a lot this time. Three weeks of sniffing was all he could take. The thrill was wearing off. His friends were all “skin popping.” They claimed it was a quicker fix and that it conserved the powder. His buddies had “the works.” When he first saw them “drilling” with the needle he was upset. It was his turn – but he chickened out. A friend drilled him. It knocked him out. When he awoke – he sat “goofing” for two hours.

It was soon costing a lot each day to keep him high. He could no longer borrow as he owed everyone in the neighborhood. He began to work “angles.” He sold all his clothes at the pawn shop. Just twenty-two years of age – he refused to believe he would ever be a drug addict. He even hated the sound of it.

Just six months ago, George was forced to go “mainline” into the veins. Skin popping was no longer effective. After his first mainline injection, he knew he was hooked for life. He began to mug, break into apartments, steal, hold up taxi cabs – all for money to get drugs. He lost 30 pounds and was nothing but skin and bones. Two days before his disappearance – he mysteriously came upon a large sum of money. The last anyone heard of him – he was headed for Harlem to “cop” a full “load” of heroin.

Both mother and minister sat solemnly waiting. George had been gone for three days without leaving a single clue to his whereabouts. At this very moment the police were investigating complaints of a terrible odor coming from the roof top of a tenement house on Prospect Avenue, Bronx, New York. Three officers nearly fainted at the sight. George was lying on the roof top just left of the stairwell, dead. He had been dead for three days, he was naked and his body had turned as black as a burnt cork. Most horrifying of all, were the gruesome features of his face. The once handsome face took on the perfect image of an ape. An autopsy revealed George had died of an overdose.

It was late that same night when his mother was called to the morgue to identify him. The funeral will long be remembered. His body was wrapped in asbestos with only his face showing. The sealed casket had a glass covered oval cut in the top to enable narcotics agents to view the remains. Young drug addicts were fled past the casket and told, “This is how it ends.” Ladies fainted – strong men were shaken – but the drug addicts were unmoved. Their minds were long since hardened to the truth.

This is a true story. I know the minister who buried him. Teenager – hear this – NOW! At the end of every sensual pleasure is a casket. The drug pushers are invading the land. They want their drugs in every high school – in every city, town and village. For some this message is already too late – you are hooked. You can be helped only if you are desperate. THIS IS THE WAY TO BE SAVED – “Confess your sins to the Lord Jesus with your mouth – repent and be sorry for all your sins – forsake your wicked way of living – call on Him and ask Him to come and live in your heart – feed yourself daily with God’s Word and talk to Jesus.”

“Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” Hebrews 11:25. Sin has pleasure there is no doubt about that, but those who overcome the temptations of this world will rejoice in everlasting life. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord” Romans 6:21

“For the Son of man (Jesus) is come to save that which is lost” Matt. 18:11. Do you feel lost today. Confused about your future, sick of your sin, then turn to the Saviour who will answer you as you pray and ask His help.

Editor’s Note: This tract was written in the early 1960’s, but the events are as true today as they were back then. Drugs are still shattering homes and lives. Trusting in Jesus is the only way to overcome them – John 14:6.

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