Christopher Stewart- the Peanut man

**Fenny West** Thu 26 Feb 2009, 6:32 pm

Chris had an addiction but an unusual one.
What comes to mind when you think of addiction- drugs, alcohol, cigarette. You’re right but for Chris, peanut was his addiction, yes!, peanuts.

And what more, Chris was also allergic to the peanuts such that after eating it he came out in rashes, had palpitations and trembled.

This may come as a surprise but many people who are allergic to peanut have lost their lives over the years. Chris often visited his GP and was warned to keep off peanuts. He usually promised but always went back to it.

At the beginning of a New Year it finally dawned on Chris that it was time to pack it in and so he made a New Year Resolution: ‘This year,’ He said to himself, ‘I’m done with peanuts.’ He succeeded for a few days and went shopping and there were some special deals-many items reduced in price, including peanuts! Chris could not resist it and he purchased some packs to take advantage of the sales. ‘I can handle it,’ he comforted himself.

He arrived home, planned to take a little at a time and spread it out over weeks, but soon he went for more and then some more. Before long, the whole pack was before him and he consumed until he started trembling, his heart beating fast. He broke out in sweat then he collapsed and was taken to hospital. Sadly, he did not survive. He passed away, killed by something as little as Peanut!

Can you imagine that someone could be imprisoned, held bound by peanuts and taken to an early grave by peanuts?

You may say ‘That cannot happen to me?' But before you condemn Chris do you know that we all have a 'peanut' in our lives? What is the peanut in your life? What is that thing that is slowly killing you or has the capacity to kill you spiritually, which you are not bale to keep away from? We all have a peanut called sin. We play with it; we are addicted to it.

What is sin?

It is the transgression of the Law. Ignoring God or preventing Him from taking a central place in your life is sin. It is giving control either to your flesh or the devil. The word of God says we all have the disease called sin, and the solution or remedy to that disease is the blood of Jesus. Jesus, who was sinless, died for us so that we might have forgiveness of sin and have everlasting life. It is He who gives us the power to live for Him. His word says, ‘walk in the spirit and you will not fulfil the lust of the flesh’. ‘The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life.’

Today, will you come to the cross and lay you peanuts down, invite Christ to take His rightful place, be Lord of your life, forgive you of yours sin, rid you of self- righteousness and bestow on you the righteousness of God?

Do not depend on your strength, like Chris. Be wise .Don’t delude yourself that you can handle your peanut. Your enemy wants to kill you, steal from you and destroy you. Don’t let him. Run into the Name of the Lord which is a strong tower. Call on the Name of the Lord. Invite Christ to come into your life He will give you a new desire, a new craving, a New Life-abundant Life, Zoe, the God-kind of Life. You will become a New Creature created in His image. And you would have passed from death unto life.