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Recently, I wrote an article that was centered around a newborn baby named Hope Holets. Hope was born addicted to drugs and was adopted by the Albuquerque police officer who found her mother in the act of shooting up heroin. Since her adoption, Hope has gone through the agonizing, month-long process of drug withdrawal and is reported to be doing very well.
Hope’s story has a happy ending. But the story of her biological mother, Crystal Champ, has not ended very well at all.
Hope’s story has been shared around the world. One rehabilitation center in Florida took notice and flew a special counselor to Albuquerque to offer Crystal an opportunity to enter their rehabilitation facility. After 20 minutes of pleading, Crystal agreed to be flown to Florida and admitted into the center. All was going well until she walked into the airport. Crystal got within 100 yards of clearing the security checkpoint when she decided that she didn’t want to go after all. Crystal refused to get on the plane, and after an emotional breakdown, she told those attempting to work with her that she was happy being a homeless heroin addict (CNN, December 27, 2017). She was so close! A few more steps, and Crystal would have been on the right road to recovery.
In Acts 25:11, we read that the Jews had lobbed some serious complaints at the apostle Paul.
Paul had an opportunity to lay out his defense to king Agrippa in Acts 26, and the king’s sad response is recorded in verse 28: “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”
Faithful Christians need to be praying for those who are teetering on the brink of making a decision to follow, or not follow, Christ. Pray for them to take those final few steps to being on the right road to salvation.
Troy Albers
Rosenberg, TX