Alcohol

                                    

            That old familiar friend… It’s available to you just about no matter where you go. It doesn’t judge you. It doesn’t blame you. It’s not going to put you down. It’s not going to tell you how to act or even what to wear. It’s just happy that you returned- Alcohol.

           

       Jesus drank wine right? So it’s alright to drink, right? He turned water into wine, that was first act in revealing Himself. It was pretty spectacular really. John 2:1-11

           

       Jesus was also known to hang around with some pretty wild people; a prostitute, drunks, tax collectors, lepers. All the kinds of riff-raff that most generally steered clear of in that day. Jesus was persecuted and questioned because of the company He kept by the Pharisees. So if He hung around all these kinds of people- the trouble makers if you will, wouldn’t He have been just like them?

           

       “I am and my Father are one.” John 10:30

          

        Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world…” John 18:36

           

      “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

          

        “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the spirit.” Ephesians 5:17-18

           

       “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighted down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close in on you unexpectedly like a trap.” Luke 21:34

           

      “Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothes your selves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Romans 13:13-14 (emphasis mine)

            What we have above are some clear examples of Jesus’ opinions of drinking too much. 

1: In speaking of Himself, He and the Father are one.

2: His kingdom isn’t of this world.

 3: We are told not to be of this world (either) and allow our minds to be renewed by Jesus himself.

 4: Getting wasted is foolish and leads to nothing good.

 5: We can assume when reading the scripture in Luke that becoming weighted down by the anxieties of life can lead to over indulgence in alcohol. We are also told, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

6: Finally the scripture from Romans begins with, “Let us behave decently…” Doesn’t that just say it all? How rational of a mindset are you in when you’ve “had too much to drink?”

          

        I am not here pointing a finger. Let me first just say that… I have been both on the receiving end of the destruction overindulgence in alcohol can cause and I was also on the side of dishing it out. I have been on both sides of the fence, so to say. First let me speak on behalf of children. Even if you are great and kind and wonderful with your children when you are drinking or even if they don’t see you drinking. There is still just this tension there until you are able to partake in your beverages. I know it. I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it. Eventually kids figure out that they can’t say this or that to you because you’ll get mad or be moody. There is this walking on egg shells that begins to happen. It isn’t a passing phase so long as the over indulgence in present in their lives. It becomes a way for them to live and it lasts well into their adult years. I didn’t realize I was in that “mode” until I got myself some help. Christ held up a mirror to my face revealing all the damage that had been done. Without the Holy Spirit, I never would have known and by the time I realized something was broken down within me I had already made so many bad decisions because of the “survival” methods I had learned.

            I mentioned above that I made a lot of bad decisions. Boy did I ever! Things I never would have done had I been sober. I’m talking life changing, life altering, life stifling decisions. Oh the possibilities had I not made these poor, poor decisions. I don’t think about them much now, as it would be sorely depressing and debilitating to do so. I have given all my mistakes and regrets to the Lord, as He is the only one strong enough to shoulder them. I was not in a clear frame of mind for the majority of my early 20’s. My new book Opening Doors outlines that. Much like the main character in the book I had wandered down a path that was leading to my own destruction.

           

        I get it. I understand why folks drink. I certainly knew why I did. For one, it was just “normal.” It was what I saw. It was what I knew. If you had a bad day, sully yourself in a drink. If you were celebrating, have a drink. You made it to the end of the day without flipping out, have a drink. Whoops, you did flip out on someone- have a drink. I get it. It’s the social aspect. It’s the, I don’t wanna freaking be here- aspect. I hate my life. I’m happy. I’m sad. I’m angry. And eventually you just do it because it’s just what you do. Eventually you do it at all costs. Eventually it’s all that you have left.  I tend to wonder if that’s why in movies, the homeless person is most often shown to have a bottle of booze in his hand. And I wonder, is that would put him on the streets?

          

        I was mad the first time I read some of these scriptures. Okay, mad isn’t the right word, I was pissed…. But I was so horribly offended because it was exactly what I needed to hear. I didn’t need to mess up my life any more than I already had and I certainly didn’t want to ruin any of the lives of those around me.

          

         If you are struggling with alcohol and realize that you are in need of a change, please get help. Don’t try and do it on your own. It’s a tough battle, I’m not going to minimize it and say it isn’t. It’s a monster, really. That’s why I italicized part of that scripture in Romans, “and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” It’s true, you can’t begin thinking about how to get your next drink or when to have it, you just simply have to set it down and not look back. Only the strength of Jesus Christ can help you do that.

            I pray that this will be read by those of you who needed it just at the right time. God bless.