I was a cigarette-smoking alcoholic, addicted to cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, and several other destructive practices. This was my former way of life, which I pursued for over 20 years. Needing those things isn't being a cool, independent, I'll do what I like , free thinker, it's slavery.
True freedom is born out of innocence. We can't go back and start over, but we can change and put on a new personality.
You just described the real change that we are being called to.
You're only missing the name for it.
"We can't go back and start over..." That's exactly why Jesus said you must be born again (John 3:3). Not reformed, not improved.
Born.
A second start you cannot give yourself, because nobody births himself.
"Put on a new personality" is nearly word-for-word Ephesians 4:22-24: put off the old self, put on the new. And the slavery language is Paul's too: "slaves of sin" set free (Romans 6:17-18).
The innocence you're reaching for isn't recovered by going back. It's received: "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18).
Twenty years of chains and you walked out. There's a Person behind that door, and He can return you to innocence.
Fields the transaction did not carry are omitted. Open the payload to see the bytes as stored.
1JhKv5bs1wpHRYFAQS4qF5zhKfAnXAy2UL Unverified"Come, now, and let us set matters straight between us,” says Jehovah. “Though your sins are like scarlet, They will be made as white as snow; Though they are as red as crimson cloth, They will become like wool.
Amen and amen!