“You have to decide. You cannot have both God and the bottle. It can only be one or the other. Which will it be?”
A man visited with me, talking about his problem with Alcohol. After listening for a while, I looked him in the eye and firmly stated, “You have to decide. You cannot have both God and the bottle. It can only be one or the other. Which will it be?” Image
from gq.com
The man I talked with is part of a larger problem. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics,10% of all Americans 12 years and older are alcoholics, and of those over 60% are men. And for many it is deadly, where 385 lives are ended every day due to alcohol.
The millions who abuse alcohol are part of a long and storied history dating back over 3,000 years to a man named Noah. History records him as being the first person to plant a vineyard, make his own wine and booze it up until he became humankind’s first drunk.
The biblical story recounts Noah as drinking alone in his tent, where the alcohol overtook him, then he disrobed and passed out on the floor without a stitch of clothes on. The incident caused embarrassment and division within the family.
Let me point out, this was Noah, the one whom God chose to be His voice to the world leading up to the 40-day global flood. He was the one about which the Bible says, “Noah was a righteous man, blameless…Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:9)
It does not matter if you are a well-respected clergyman, or are in constant trouble with the law. Noah’s story tells us that anyone can fall prey to the temptation of the bottle.
Why did Noah drink? Why do others? Perhaps someone might be thinking, “It goes good with my meal,” “I like the taste,” “I just want to have some fun with a few friends,” or “It’s been a stressful day and I just want to relax.” For many, their intentions are likely innocent. For others, not so much. They have to drink, because they cannot control it. Instead, it controls them. What starts out as one drink, turns into two, three and soon the person is feeling tipsy, buzzed, and then full-blown drunk.
God says about alcohol, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” (Proverbs 20:1)
Have you ever been a little woozy or totally drunk? Are you able to go a day, week or month without a drink and have no physical symptoms? After drinking have you ever quietly passed out like Noah, or became loud, obnoxious and abusive around others?
If you cannot go without alcohol, then it has a grip on you. I urge you to get help. Recognize you have a problem.
Some people go to great lengths to make the Bible sound as if God supports the abuse of alcohol. They are terribly mistaken! The practice of Drunkenness is condemned by God. The Scripture says, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery…” (Ephesians 5:18) And what is drunkenness? Our laws may equate blood alcohol concentration with certain numbers, but according to God, drunkenness occurs when alcohol hits the blood stream and it begins to intoxicate you affecting your mind and body. God’s view of drunkenness is much different than ours.
You have a choice. You do not have to be a slave to the bottle. You can be free, and freedom begins with Jesus. He died and rose again that through Him you might overcome. If you need help do these three things. First, call upon Jesus with all your heart to be delivered. Second, contact a local pastor. Third, call 1-800-662-4357, which is a national alcohol treatment hotline.
A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray for the one who is controlled by alcohol. Let this be the start of a new day for them. Bring them to confess their sin of drunkenness to you. May they reach toward the heavens in totally brokenness, crying out to you for complete and instant deliverance. Do a miracle today, O God! In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
