Roughly 4,000 years ago Moses led the children of Israel out of the bondage of slavery from Egypt.  He told his people that he would lead them into the Promised Land, Jerusalem.  He took them into the desert after demanding Pharaoh to set his people free and casting down plagues on the Egyptians.  While they were leaving Egypt, Moses performed many miracles such as parting the Red Sea, calling down manna from heaven, and making rocks bring forth water.  Despite all that he did to free them and keep them alive, the children of Israel complained and rebelled.  The Bible says that because of their rebellion and complaining, God would not let them enter into the Promised Land.  They were forced to wander in circles in the desert for forty years.  Then they were allowed to enter into Jerusalem (which translates as “God’s peace”). My life was a lot like the children of Israel.  When I was fourteen, Pharaoh, whom I like to call satan or the enemy) led me into the bondages of Egypt (drugs, alcohol and depression).  Then the law maker, Moses (the Legal system) took me out of bondage and took me to the desert (jail and misery).  I was still rebellious and complained the whole time.  I did not learn my lesson.  I was arrested four times, and went to four different rehabilitation programs.  I was traveling in this circle of drugs, jail and recovery.  I was destined to continue this pattern until I had a change of heart.  When I was in jail the last time, I told God, “Okay, I will go where You want me to go.  I leave it to You.”  A few weeks later I was headed to “my Jerusalem.”  The judge had ordered me to rehab (a huge miracle…I should have gone to prison for three years).  My mother had pleaded to the judge to give me one more last chance and he granted me mercy and sent me to the Wings of Life (kind of like my Joshua who actually ushered the children of Israel into the Promised Land).  At the Wings of Life, I got my life together, was saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, and touched by the fire of God in a way I cannot describe.

            I have been clean for almost two years now, and since then I have been actively involved with many ministries such as youth ministry, worship team, rehab ministry and inner city ministries.  I have also graduated from Auburn University and work as an auditor for the state of Georgia.  God has also recently blessed me with a wonderful and beautiful wife.  We are involved in the worship/children ministry at a church in Atlanta, Georgia.  My wife can sing beautifully…something I prayed for.  I could probably write hundreds of pages of how God has blessed me.  I am living a brand new life given to me by God and I praise Him for it!  When we become saved, the Bible teaches us that we are new creatures in Christ, and that ALL old things pass away.  I am now living my new life in God’s peace.

Philip Arthurs