Paul Smithson
Alcohol is a device Satan uses to deceitfully destroy the
lives and souls of many people. In the U.S. today, over 65
million people above the age of 20 drink alcoholic beverages.
Alcoholism affects one out of three American families. America
spends an annual 10 billion dollars on liquor. Twenty to 50% of
general hospital beds are occupied by the people whose illness
is associated with alcohol abuse. Alcohol is involved in over
50% of all arrests.
The Tenn. Alcohol & Drug Assoc. reports show that drinking
is also a problem among our youth. It reports that over 50% of
seventh graders and nearly 90% of high school seniors have tried
alcohol. They tell us the leading single cause of death among
15-24 year olds is drunk driving and that 40 - 60% of all fatal
crashes involving a young driver are alcohol related.
Drunkenness is included among the works of the flesh which
will not allow an individual to inherit the kingdom of God,
(Gal. 5:21).
The use of alcohol impairs the qualities one must possess to
be pleasing to God such as self-control, reason, and sound
judgment (1Pet. 1:6; 4:7; Gal. 5:23). It is difficult at times
to live and act properly before God when one is sober, let alone
while under the influence of alcohol.
Some ask, "If drinking is wrong then why did Jesus turn
the water into wine in John 2?" Surely Jesus would not provide
for some what He condemns for others. It is a fact of history
that what was drunk at the table in the ancient world was not
the intoxicating wine of today. Not only the Greeks, but the
Hebrews and Romans alike cut their wine with 3 and 4 parts water
to drink as a beverage. Wine that was not deluded was referred
to as strong drink, which the Bible so clearly warns against.
Every product that anyone would drink as a social drink today,
such as beer, wine, or liquor, has the alcohol content to be
classified as strong drink.
Some defend social drinking stating, "I can control my
drinking, I don't get drunk." But the very example that drinking
sets before others condemns it before God (1Tim. 4:12).
Could anyone who defends social drinking be willing to say:
1. That they believe they could convincingly have an righteous
influence on others with a drink in their hand? 2. That they
would want others, especially children to follow their example?
3. That when Jesus comes in judgment they would be perfectly
comfortable meeting Him with a drink in their hand?
Billions of dollars are spent to advertise the use of
alcohol as fun and glamorous. To drink, we are told, is to "go
for the gusto," "the high life." We are told that when you drink
"it just doesn't get any better than this", that when you drink
"life is good."
However, Satan never gives the true picture. "Satan
disguises himself as an angel of light" (2Cor. 11:14). Never do
the alcohol commercials show the guy in the gutter in his own
vomit. Never do they show hungry children where some mom or dad
drank up the paycheck. Never do they show the dead and mangled
bodies in a pile of twisted metal where a drunk has hit a car
head on. Never do they show the struggle and heartache of alcohol rehabilitation. Neither do they mention God's displeasure. Sin is
deceitful (Heb. 3:12-13).
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