FROM SATAN'S PLAYGROUND TO CHRIST

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INTRODUCTION

My name is Eamonn. For many years I was an alcoholic, and saw no hope for the future. As far as my relatives, friends, and neighbours were concerned, I was heading for 'Skid Row', and was a lost cause.
Eventually, the drink got such a grip on my life that I ended up in the Alcoholic Unit of an Institution.
But God has been merciful to me, and has completely transformed my life.
In this little booklet I would like to share with you how this happened.

SCHOOL DAYS

I am one of a family of ten, seven boys and three girls. My parents were fairly religious, and followed the family traditions, which had been handed down for many generations. All of us were baptised, as infants, into the Roman Catholic Church.

I began my school days at the Presentation Convent in Thurles, and for three years was taught by the nuns. I can still remember that some of them were cross with me, but I suppose I was not the best-behaved boy in the class.

The nuns had the task of preparing us for our first confession. They had a small Chinese counting board in the classroom, and used this to demonstrate to us how the priest would slide back the little door in the confession box as he prepared to listen to us confess our sins to him.
We practiced making our confession by telling our sins to the nuns. Then, when we were adequately prepared, we went to the Chapel and confessed our sins to the priest. The nuns also prepared us for our First Communion, which we received at the age of seven.

This was always a great occasion, both for the children and for their parents. I remember getting new shoes, and a new suit, shirt and tie. But the money and presents I got from relatives and friends of the family were certainly the most important things, as far as I was concerned. The day consisted of lots of photographs being taken, and all of us really enjoying ourselves, especially at the party which the nuns laid on for the boys and girls.

Shortly after receiving my First Communion I attended the Christian Brothers' Primary School. It was here that I was introduced to the worship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. There were a number of statues of Mary in the school. The largest of them was situated at the end of the corridor that led to our classrooms.

Each day in school when the bell was rung at noon, we would all stand up and say the Angelus. We were glad to get a few minutes' break from the lessons. The prayers were just rattled off, without meaning. The Angelus was also to be said each evening when the Chapel bell rang at six o' clock.

While attending that school I was prepared for my Confirmation. At the age of twelve, the Archbishop laid hands on me and anointed me with Chrism. According to the Church, I was now baptised with the Holy Spirit, and a soldier of Jesus Christ. This Sacrament I had just received would, I was told, empower and enable me to live a holy life and to overcome temptation.
It soon became clear to me and to many others that the ceremony I had gone through was no more than a man-made ritual, and could do absolutely nothing to change my life.

MY FIRST TASTE OF ALCOHOL

A short time after receiving my Confirmation I attended the Christian Brothers' Secondary School. During my time at this school I got my first taste of alcoholic drink. Along with a few other boys in my class, I got hooked on the drink at an early age. Two of us went on to become alcoholics.
My good friend and drinking partner committed suicide a few years ago. He was married to a lovely girl and they had two children. His business was booming, and he had no financial problems. He seemed to have everything going for him. For some reason he just snapped, picked up his shotgun, and in an instant went out into eternity. Many an alcoholic could tell you of times when the pressure gets so great that suicide seems to be the only way out. On more than one occasion I felt like taking my own life. At one stage I decided I would drive my car into a wall, but I just did not have the courage to do it.

Some alcoholics will talk about their thoughts of suicide. Others never talk about it but, to the dismay of all who know them, they suddenly take their own lives. Alcohol can cause such despair in a person that they can see no other way out but to kill themselves. How I thank God for restraining me when I felt suicidal.

I know now, from reading the Scriptures, that it is wrong to take your own life.
I can sincerely say to anybody who is feeling miserable and down and out, or who may be feeling that you have come to the end of your tether, and can see no light at the end of the tunnel, that there is a way out. There is hope for you. I know this from experience.

Right now you can call out to the Lord Jesus Christ for help. He says in the Scriptures: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in." ( Revelation Ch. 3 v 20 )

He is standing at the door of your life right now, wanting to come in to save you. HE IS ABLE to deliver you from your addiction and from your misery, depression and anxiety.
But even more important is the fact that "HE IS ABLE TO SAVE completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them." ( Hebrews Ch.7 v 25 ).

IN THE SCRUM

After leaving school my drinking became heavier. I was very interested in sports, especially swimming and badminton. I was a member of a badminton team, but very often when a game was about to be played I would be missing. Sometimes I had to be coaxed out of the pub to play in a match. Eventually, I decided that the badminton was interfering with my drinking, so it had to go.
Some time later a friend of mine approached me and asked if I would be interested in joining the local rugby team. He reckoned that because I was six ft. tall, well built and fit that I would be very suitable for the game. I decided to join the team, and for the next seventeen years rugby became a very big part of my life.

Shortly after joining the team I was introduced to the 'social' side of rugby. I would like to point out here that I am in no way being critical of rugby, or of anybody who plays the game. I am just saying that, as far as I am concerned, the social side of rugby affected me personally, for it involved a lot of heavy drinking. After each game, we drank. If we won, we drank, and if we lost, we drank. Regardless of the outcome of the match, we celebrated with a drink.

I would drink before and after training, and I always had to have a few before a game, to calm the nerves and boost the courage. The "adrenalin stimulator" was especially necessary if the opposing team included a panel of 'hard chaws'.

And so the alcohol continued to gain more control over me.

SHOCKED BY THE TRUTH

In 1973 I got a job with the Erin Foods Company, in Thurles. For eight years I worked as a helper on the trucks, delivering products to various parts of the country. Sometimes this involved staying out overnight. That suited me, as I could then drink freely, being away from home. I earned good money, more, in fact, than my father, who had worked for many years in another branch of the same Company. Most of the money I earned was spent on drink, as my addiction continued to worsen.


Eventually, I got tired of all the travelling, and moved in to the factory itself. I was shifted about quite a bit, working at different jobs. One of these involved driving a forklift.

Later on I was moved to the first floor of the factory. It was during my time in this area that I came into contact with Dick Keogh. I had known him for some time, and knew that he enjoyed life. He was in the music business, and had been in a band for some years.

But after a few weeks I noticed that he was a changed man. He was now talking about God. He was trying to tell us about a Jesus Christ who had died for us and who could save us. I noticed that everything he told us was from the Bible. I remember that he had a little book, which had a red cover. On it were written the words, 'New Testament'. At that time I did not know what a New Testament was. I was in complete ignorance concerning the Bible. I didn't know it contains sixty-six books, and consists of an Old and New Testament.

It saddens me to know that even today, here in Ireland, there are thousands of people who are still in ignorance concerning the Scriptures. So many are still unaware that "The Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes."
( Romans Ch. 1 v 16 ).

Well, this man was showing us in his New Testament that Christ willingly went to Calvary on our behalf, and took our place by actually becoming our substitute. He suffered and died upon the cross, paying the penalty for the guilt of our sins. He laid down His life as a 'Once-For-All' Sacrifice for sin.

He showed us that "It is by GRACE you have been saved, through FAITH - and this not from yourselves, - it is the GIFT of God - NOT BY WORKS, so that no - one can boast." ( Ephesians Ch.2 v 8, 9 )

I was shocked to hear that a person is saved by Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I had been taught that salvation must be earned or merited by a person doing their best, by being religious, and by doing good works. This was the first time I had ever heard what the Scriptures had to say about the way of salvation, so it was quite a shock to my system.

I was not prepared to put aside all the traditions and teachings which had been handed down to me. Some of these I had learned at home, and others had been taught to me in school.
When I was being prepared for my First Communion the nuns had taught me that Jesus would actually be present in the host which the priest would place in my mouth on that great day. They told me that every time I received the host throughout the rest of my life I would, in fact, be receiving Christ.

I was taught by the Christian Brothers that the statue at the end of the corridor in our school, the one of the Blessed Virgin standing on the serpent's head, actually depicted Mary's power over the devil. They also taught me that the Blessed Virgin was sinless, and that she could Mediate for me in heaven.

All of these teachings and all of the traditions I had learned since childhood were very important to me, so I decided to oppose this man and the message he was proclaiming. I encouraged some of the friends I worked with in the factory to make life difficult for him. We tormented him as much as we could. We hid his New Testament, abused him verbally and really blackguarded him. I nicknamed him "The Bishop".

NO BACKDOORS

One day I was so busy on my machine that I could not leave it. I was watching some of my friends as they tried to torment Dick. They were verbally abusing him and trying to make him angry. They tried everything to upset him. But he just kept smiling through it all. This really bugged me.

That was the day I finally realised that this man had something different. Whatever it was, we could not break it, no matter how hard we tried. There and then I decided to ask my friend, Jimmy, one of those who took great delight in making life difficult for "The Bishop", if he would accompany me to one of the Bible Studies. The idea was that we would just go to have a good laugh at the people there. We were not sure if we would be allowed to attend, but when we asked, Dick reached out and shook our hands, and told us that we would be very welcome at one of the meetings. These were held in his home on Tuesday and Friday nights and on Sunday mornings.

On the following Tuesday night we arrived outside his home. We could hear the singing coming from the room in which the meeting was being held. We just burst out laughing. In fact, at one stage, we had to bite our jumpers, in case our laughter would be heard above the singing. Even when we walked into the room we were laughing loudly, but they did not seem to mind. They just continued what they were doing.

What really spoke to me was the way they were praying. The prayers were so meaningful and personal. They seemed to be praying to someone with whom they actually had a personal relationship.

Then Dick gave a message from the Scriptures, and the smiles soon came off our faces. The Gospel message he shared that night was not watered down. It went straight to the heart. As I listened, it became very clear that there were no backdoors into heaven, as I had believed. I learned at that meeting that Jesus had said; "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no - one comes to the Father except through Me." ( John Ch. 14 v 6 ).

I had been hoping to get in to heaven through one of the back doors, which were, as far as I was concerned, dependence upon the Church, the Blessed Virgin, and many of the Saints, along with 'doing my best.' But the message of the Scriptures was very clear that night, and showed me that salvation is by FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE.

God's Word really penetrated, and it hurt me to be confronted with what I knew to be the truth. In the Bible it says: "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double - edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ( Hebrews Ch.4 v 12 )

That night I realised this was true for, as the word of God was being proclaimed, my heart was touched. I was really challenged. I hurt me when I realised what Jesus had to do in order to save sinners like me. My laughter nearly turned to tears, but I was too proud to let the tears flow from my eyes.

I realised that I needed to respond to God's love for me, but I was not prepared to give up the traditions I had grown up with. Neither was I willing to give up my carefree lifestyle. I was especially determined that there was no way I would give up the drink. It meant too much to me.

SITTING ON THE FENCE

We got an invitation to come to more meetings, and I did, in fact, attend many. There I learned that when Jesus partook of the Last Supper with His disciples He said to them: "I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." ( Luke Ch.22 v 16).

So it was clear to me that Christ could not have been present in that host I had received on my First Communion day or, in fact, in any of the hosts I had received since then.

According to the Scriptures that were being expounded, the risen Saviour is at His Father's right hand in heaven, as our High Priest, Mediator and Advocate.

I also learned that it was not the Blessed Virgin Mary who crushed the serpent's head, but that the Lord Jesus Christ defeated Satan at Calvary.

I was amazed to see in the Scriptures that "There is ONE Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." ( 1Timothy Ch.2 v 5 ).

Again and again I heard the way of salvation, as outlined in the Bible, expounded. What an eye - opener it was to learn that Christ had suffered and died on the cross as MY substitute, paying the penalty for MY sins. The more I heard God's word proclaimed the more convinced I became of what I should do. I knew the step I had to take, but for many years I just 'sat on the fence', with one foot in the world, and one foot in Christianity. I said I knew Jesus, but deep down in my heart I knew I was far away from God.

The Lord was calling me to follow Him, but I did not want to listen to Him. I was just like the Prophet Jonah. When God called him, he ran away. He ran in the opposite direction. I was certainly running away from God. But He continued to patiently call me. I resisted, and even argued with God, asking Him, "Why me"? I said to God, "There is no way I am going to go in that direction." You see, I was not prepared to give up my drinking or change my lifestyle. I was quite happy to have a 'religious front' and to wear a 'mask' of respectability.

I felt I could live a double life. I could LOOK like a Christian, but LIVE like a pagan.
I can say to anybody who is in a similar position today, that 'sitting on the fence' will just make you miserable. You will feel torn asunder, tormented and confused. This is how I was.

FIREWATER

My drinking continued to get heavier. It finally got to the stage where I was having blackouts. For a long time I did not realise this, and thought I was just becoming forgetful. But eventually I began to realise that something was wrong. People began to ask me if I enjoyed being in a particular place, or doing a particular thing, but I didn't have a clue what they were talking about. They must have realised by the blank expression on my face that I wasn't 'with it' at all. I became so embarrassed by this that I began to lie to people, and to pretend that I remembered where I had been and what I had done.

I was being very badly affected by the drink at this stage. It is not surprising that the Red Indians referred to alcohol as 'Firewater.' They also called it the 'Spirit'. As far as I am concerned, it is an evil spirit. It is something that is used by the devil to destroy individuals, homes, families, and even whole communities.

Like many others, the glitter and tinsel setting of advertisements on TV for alcoholic drink deceived me. I have often said that the liquor reminds me of a rose garden. The rose looks beautiful, but when you touch it you soon discover that there are thorns also, and that they sting. So it is with the booze. I soon discovered that. When I touched the drink I got stung, and badly stung.

I realised that my health was beginning to be affected, but I was still craving for the very thing that was destroying me. Unknown to myself, I had now entered what is technically known as the 'Chronic' stage of alcoholism

A 'DOG IN THE CORNER'

When I met Bernie, she didn't realise just how serious my drinking addiction was. I made sure I was never badly intoxicated whenever I was in her company. But shortly after our marriage she began to experience the difficulties encountered when living with an alcoholic. She was very patient, and made every effort to help me overcome my addiction. But my craving for alcohol continued to increase.

We have three lovely children. Our oldest girl, Barbara, is now seventeen years of age. She is handicapped, having been born with Cerebral Palsy. Our other daughter, Yvonne, is fifteen years old, and Matthew is six.

Barbara will never know that her father was an alcoholic. Matthew didn't ever see me drunk, but Yvonne did see a lot of what went on. She often pleaded with me not to go out drinking.
I can remember seeing that same look of helplessness and lostness in the eyes of may wife and children that I had seen on TV, in the eyes of the unfortunate children of Biafra and Ethiopia. My family felt so helpless as they saw me continuing to destroy myself. But nothing would stop me.
If I wanted drink, I had to have it. If I didn't have the money for drink, I was not a very nice person to be at home with. I was like a 'dog in the corner', and no - one could come near me in case they got bitten. It breaks my heart now when I remember the hurt I caused to my wife and children.

My drinking became so heavy that I could no longer hold down my job in Erin Foods. When I got my redundancy money, I gave my family what I considered to be their portion, but I spent a far larger amount on the booze. I kept drinking day after day until every penny was gone. Eventually, the alcohol began to take its toll on my body. My health broke down, and I was diagnosed as having Burgess' Disease. This is a blood disorder which, in my case, was caused by excessive drinking.

ON 'SKID ROW'

One evening I finally realised that I was heading for 'Skid Row.' I had been in the pub since early morning, and was very intoxicated. I GOT INTO MY CAR AND DROVE TO Dick and Mary Keogh's home. They were glad to see me, even though I was drunk, crying and sick. I felt all broken up inside. I was in a terrible state.

They talked to me for a long time, counselling me and offering to help me get my life in order. Acting on their advice, I agreed that Dick should take me to get a letter from my doctor stating that I was in urgent need of Detoxification.

Then he drove me to an institution, where I was admitted to the 'Drying Out' unit. He stayed with me until I was settled in, and then drove my car to my home and explained the situation to my wife and family. They were very relieved to hear that I was finally willing to admit that I had a problem, and that I was prepared to accept help to overcome it.

I spent three weeks in that institution. After I had been 'dried out', it was suggested to me that I could benefit greatly by spending some time in another institution, one which ran a recovery programme for alcoholics. I agreed to this, and was transferred to a unit in Co. Waterford.
Something that really spoke to me was the fact that while I was there in that unit, not one of my drinking partners came to visit me. Not one of them even sent me a 'Get Well' card. They had no interest in me now, because I could not buy them a few drinks. When I had money in my pocket, and was buying rounds for the boys, I was a very popular fellow, but now they just did not want to know me. I learned a very important lesson; to the alcoholic, drink is far more important than people are.

JUST A 'SOCIAL' DRINK

At this stage I was in very bad shape. I was a broken man. I was suffering from the shakes, and was in what alcoholics call the 'Rats'. I was having severe withdrawal symptoms, having been without a drink for over three weeks. It felt as if I was having a heavy bout of 'flu, twenty times each day. My heart was palpitating, and I was convinced I could see things flickering up before my eyes. I could hear voices in my head, saying, "Everybody is laughing at you. You are foolish to be going through this torture. Go back home and have a few drinks and then you will feel fine."
My eyes were really opened to the power and evil of drink during my stay at that unit. I saw a man who had to be restrained in a strait-jacket, in case he would kill himself or somebody else.
One of the men in my ward was dying of Cirrhosis of the liver, which had been caused by excessive drinking. He was only forty years of age. I heard him screaming for a drink. There he was, on his death-bed, crying out for a drink, the very thing that was literally killing him.
Here were men who had started off, just like I had, by taking a 'social' drink. But 'social' drinking soon became excessive drinking, and finally went on to be a soul-destroyer.

It is not surprising that God says in His word: "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor DRUNKARDS nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." ( 1Corinthians Ch.2 v 9, 10 ).
According to God's word, no drunkard will enter heaven. But God is willing to save and change drunkards. In verse 11 He says: "And this is what some of you WERE. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

I know this is true, for I was a drunkard, steeped in sin. I thank God that He is interested in saving and delivering the drunkard.

One of the other patients in my ward, a man named Martin, tried to hang himself one morning in the hospital bathroom. His wife had left him and, as a result, he was suffering from deep depression. He would not talk to anybody in the Institution, or eat anything.
Dick and his father were visiting me that evening, and both of them had a long talk with Martin. He responded, and cheered up. From then on he began to improve. I was delighted to hear that after he was discharged from the hospital he attended a Gospel meeting in Waterford Baptist Church. Michael Grant, the Pastor of that Church, had visited me and helped me a lot while I was hospitalised.

NO CONDEMNATION

As the weeks went by, my mind began to clear, and I was able to remember a lot of what I had heard over the years concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. I recalled one of the Scripture verses I had heard mentioned so often, and which is found in the Gospel of John, Ch.3 v 16; It reads: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

I asked myself if it was possible that God could love me. I knew I was a filthy sinner, and did not deserve God's mercy. I reckoned my sin was so black that God could not forgive me. I had hurt so many people, and had offended God. It just seemed impossible that I could be forgiven.
But God brought to mind a passage of Scripture I had heard in the past. It reads: "Therefore, there is now NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus." ( Romans Ch.8 v 1).
I remembered hearing that all the condemnation for my sins was placed on the shoulders of the Lord Jesus Christ as He hung upon the cross at Calvary. He paid in full the penalty for all my sins, as He suffered and died as my substitute. I finally realised that God the Father could actually forgive my sins right NOW because His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, had actually already borne the punishment that was due to me because of my sins.

I got down on my knees in the privacy of my room in that institution in Waterford, and repented of my sins. I asked God to forgive me and to come into my life and change me. I asked Him to make me the person He wanted me to be. This was no half-hearted request. It was a cry from the heart. God answered my cry, and came into my life that night.


Many years previously I had fallen in the mud and the mire of sin. I had been sinking fast, and it seemed as if all that was left over the mire was my hand. But when I called out to Jesus for help, He clasped that hand for me and pulled me up out of the pit of sin.

In Psalm 40, vs. 1 and 2, we read these words; "I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and the mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand."

BACK HOME

I came home from that Institution as a changed man. God had changed me. He had completely taken away the desire for alcohol, and placed within my heart a determination to live for Him in such a way that Glory would be brought to His Name.

I applied to join the Evangelical Church in Thurles and, after some months was received into membership.

Some time later I felt I should work alongside my good friends, Brian and Cathy Harvey who, along with their son, David, and some friends, were involved in holding children's meetings in Thurles and Roscrea. These meetings, which are called 5-Day Clubs, consist of Bible Stories, quizzes, memory verses and choruses.

When these were ended, Bernie and I decided to hold children's meetings in our home on Saturdays. We visited our neighbours and asked if they would give their children permission to attend our Good-News-Club.

We asked Dick and Mary Keogh and their daughter, Rebecca, if they would help us lead the meetings.

One of the lessons we have covered with the children is Pilgrim's Progress. It was a great delight to see the youngsters listen so attentively as they were told about people who find themselves in the "Valley of Decision", and realise their need to respond positively to the invitation of Jesus, who dais: "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." ( Matthew Ch.11 v 28 ).

WASTED YEARS RESTORED

Some time ago I listened to a song called 'Wasted Years'. The words of the song seem to describe a large part of my life, which was completely wasted on drink.

But I thank God that He has given me a new start. I can identify with what He says in His word: " Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; OLD things have passed away; behold, all things become NEW." (2 Corinthians Ch.5 v 17).

God, in His grace and mercy, has picked up the pieces of my shattered life and restored me.
I have written this little booklet to remind other dear men and women who may be struggling, as I was, with alcohol addiction, that there is a God of love and compassion who is willing and able to save your soul and to deliver you from your misery.

You may be asking the question, "WHEN can I come to the Lord and receive His forgiveness"? Look at what God says in His word: "Come NOW, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." ( Isaiah Ch. 1 v 18 )

"Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation." ( 2Corinthians Ch.6 v 2).

INVITATION

Dear Friend, many people had given up on me, but God hadn't. He was interested in me, and I know He is interested in you, also.

When it seemed that nobody loved me, He did, and He loves you, too.

Jesus has already proved how much He loves you, by willingly going to the cross as your substitute.
Why not come to Him today, in repentance for your sins? Right now, just where you are, you can ask Him to forgive you and to save you. Ask Him to come into your life as Saviour and Lord and to change you.
God says in His word: "Call to Me and I will answer you"
(Jeremiah Ch. 33 v 3).
"Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord WILL be saved"
(Romans Ch. 10 v 13).

It is my heart's desire and prayer to God that today you will put your life in the hands of Jesus, who said: "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." ( John Ch.10 v 10 ).

If, after reading this, you would like further information, or if you would like to receive any of the following, free of charge,

(a) A BIBLE;

(b) A GOSPEL MESSAGE ON CASSETTE TAPE;

(c) LITERATURE EXPLAINING THE WAY OF SALVATION,

Please contact me at the following address:

EAMONN O' DWYER,

C / O CHERITH GOSPEL OUTREACH,

EMAIL - Israel@esatclear.ie

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