BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US

When I was twelve years old we had a week of revival services at our church. The visiting preacher was Brother Gann. I listened to his sermons intently, night after night. As far back as I can remember, I always loved listening to preaching and hearing stories from the Bible. I knew about God, and I believed he existed. I read the Bible from time to time, but I didn’t really have a close relationship with God.

I went to church and to Sunday school, and I was in all the Christmas plays, but other than that, I didn’t really spend much time with God. I played outside with my sisters and went to school. I watched TV, listened to the radio, and my music collection, which was Country and Pop. That was basically my life at the time.

Close to the end of the week of meetings, Brother Gann took me into the Men’s bathroom and talked to me about salvation. He had me repeat a prayer, then asked if I felt like God had done anything for me. I was a very shy kid, and I was terrified of men, especially in a bathroom. I wanted to get out of there, and back to my grandmother, as fast as I could, so I told him what I thought he wanted to hear.

I didn’t feel like God had done anything for me or changed me in any way, but just to be done, and get out of there, I said, “I think so.” I was baptized, with several other people, that Sunday night, and became a member of that little church. As I stood there in the front of the church with my heart pounding, and my hair still wet, the congregation all came by to welcome the new members into the family, with hugs, and handshakes. But, nothing had really changed for me. I was no more saved than I had been a week earlier.

Four years later, I was further away from God than I had ever been. Oh, I still prayed, when I needed something, or when I was afraid, but, I had stopped reading the Bible, and I had stopped going to church. I was drinking, and doing drugs, and all the bad things that come with that lifestyle. I was still lost. I didn’t know Jesus at all. I knew myself, though. I knew I was lost. I knew what I was doing was wrong, and I hated myself for it. I hated who I was, and what I was. I was miserable inside. I hated everything about myself. I hated everything I did, and everything I thought. I tried to do good and be a good person, but no matter how hard I tried it wasn’t enough. I was still the same miserable person inside.

Then, when I was nineteen, I started going back to church, but not where I was baptized seven years earlier. I was ashamed to face those people because many of them knew what kind of life I had been living, and I was afraid of what they might say to me.

In my new church, I began to learn more about God, and what he expects from us. I wanted to do right. I was sick of my life, and I was sick of myself. I started reading the Bible again. I started studying and comparing scriptures. I started to understand God and his love. I knew myself well, and I knew I didn’t deserve anything good, but I began to see that God loved me anyway. Me! The vilest sinner alive. Wow! Realizing that was so amazing. There are no words to describe it. I got to thinking, if he loves me so much that he would come to earth, suffer, and die in my place because he wanted me to be part of his family, and be with him forever, I should accept him as Lord of my life, and serve him. So I did.

I began to understand why Christians love him so much. I began to see how they could still serve him even when things are not perfect. I saw why Peter, Paul, and the other early Christians, and the reformers were all willing to die rather than denounce Jesus and his truth.

The awesome love that our creator has for us is beyond words. Even though we’re such sinners, and we reject him time and time again, he still loves us. When we come to understand the love he has for us, it causes us to love him. When we truly realize how wretched we are, and how vile, and sinful we truly are in God’s sight, and then to see the depth of love that he has for us anyway, it’s amazing. That’s why I love him. That’s why I serve him. That’s why I want others to know him. John said, “We love him because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). He’s such a great God, and he wants to be with us and spend time with us.

Many people have been baptized and joined a church, but they’re still living just like the world. They’re not really following Jesus. Why not? It’s because they don’t know him. When you truly know him you can’t help but love him. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments“ (John 14:15).

If we love him we will WANT to keep his commandments. People have to experience God’s love before they can love him. I want the world to know that God is real and that he loves them beyond all human understanding. I want people to love Jesus, and obey him, and keep his commandments. That’s the main difference between those who follow Jesus and those who don’t. They don’t love him, so naturally, they don’t want to obey him. They don’t want him telling them how to live their lives. They don’t realize that he only wants what’s best for us and that he wants us all to be happy. They don’t know that obeying God will bring true happiness. God loves us. God is love, and spending time with him, and getting to know him, puts love in our hearts for him, and for others, as well.

That’s how his followers can love people that others might not; Those who have committed horrible, sinful acts. Those that society has labeled as “worthless” or “a lost cause.” That’s how we can forgive someone who has committed terrible acts against us, or people we love.

It’s not just because we know how bad those people are, or what they have been through. It’s that we know how bad WE are, and God loves us anyway. I like to think of it as seeing them through God’s eyes. He loves them with that same unconditional love he has for us, and he wants to save them as much as he wants to save us. It’s not always easy, though. We’re still human. The ability to love, and forgive can only come from God.

If we’re honest with ourselves, about ourselves, we will not judge others. If we truly see how sinful we are, we’ll realize that another person’s sins are no worse than our own. They may commit sins we might never imagine doing, but sin is sin, in God’s eyes. It’s important to understand that we would still be out there living just like the world if it wasn’t for the grace of God. That same grace is available to everyone, no matter how bad you are. No matter what you’ve ever done, God is willing to forgive you and save you.

So, if you don’t know Jesus, get to know him. He IS real. If you don’t believe, ask him to show you. If you’re sincere, he’ll reveal himself to you. Don’t be afraid. He loves you so much that he died for you. You can trust him with your life.

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THE GRASS IS NOT ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE

I remember when I was twelve years old, we moved to a new place. It was beautiful, especially after four years of living beside the busy highway. The view of nothing but cars and trucks going back and forth, like rows of ants, got old after a while. Now, we were in a new place. A beautiful place. A place that reminded me of the old west that I had seen on TV. There were fields, and pastures with cows, and horses, creeks and springs, hills and valleys, and a big river where we could fish and swim. Like I said, it was a beautiful place.

I remember immediately wanting to explore as much of my new environment as I possibly could, but my grandmother, being the great parent she was, had some concerns. There were snakes, and other critters to watch out for, and she was worried about us being around a big body of water without adult supervision. She loved us, and she wanted us to have fun but she also wanted us to be safe, so we had time limits on how long we could be gone from the house before we had to come back and let her know we were okay. We didn’t have cell phones back then, and who knows what could happen in a place like that? I was allowed to explore, but she said I needed to check in every hour so she wouldn’t worry so much.

One day, while exploring down by the river, I found an open space in the woods, with a mixture of green grass, and brown weeds, that was totally different from any of the other places I had seen around the river. It wasn’t actually beautiful, like a flower garden. It was very interesting. I was so amazed that God would put that spot there in the middle of the woods where very few people would ever see it. I visited that place time and time again. There was just something about it that kept drawing me back.

I also noticed something else very interesting. Directly across the river, there was a spot without trees that looked quite similar to the spot where I was standing. It appeared to be about the same shape and size as the one on my side of the river. Maybe they were both once part of the same spot before the river ever came through. There was something different about it, though. That grass looked much greener and thicker than the grass on the side where I was. I had to get over there and visit that spot; I just had to.

The desire was so strong that, if I had known how to swim then, I might have jumped in the water, and tried to make it to the other side that day, but I used my common sense and resisted the temptation. I formulated a plan, and the next day I put it into action. I had one hour. I knew there was a bridge somewhere down the river because we had crossed it several times going to my uncle’s house. So, I said goodbye to my sisters and my grandmother and calmly walked toward the field that led to the woods by the river. Then as soon as I was out of sight, I ran as fast as I could for as long as I could. I had to make it to that bridge as soon as possible.

I crossed fence after fence and field after field. I kept thinking it should be just around the next turn, only to be disappointed again and again. I started thinking I would never get there. I finally did make it to the bridge and crossed it. Then I headed back up the river on that side in search of that beautiful oasis in the woods. My hour was pretty much up by the time I reached my destination, so I didn’t get to spend much time there, but that wasn’t the most disappointing part. It wasn’t near as beautiful, nor as green as it had appeared when I saw it from the other side of the river. Now it looked exactly like the spot I had viewed it from on the opposite bank. In fact, the spot I had first visited on the other side looked a lot like the spot where I was now standing did when I was on the other side.

When I think about that experience, an old saying comes to mind; “The Grass Is Always Greener On The Other Side.” Well, I can testify that it’s not! I know that phrase is usually spoken sarcastically, and I wish I could say I learned that lesson that day, but, sadly, I can’t. I was raised going to church, and reading the Bible. I was taught to do right, and to avoid “sinful pleasures,” but I still left home at sixteen, and went to the “other side.” After about three years of “sinful pleasure,” I did finally realize that the grass is NOT always greener on the other side. That’s when I truly realized what a sinner I was, and how much I needed a savior.

It’s sad that we humans don’t often learn from the mistakes of others, or the wisdom of those who have been there, and warn us of things we need to avoid. It’s sad that we have to be in the mud with the pigs to see how much better it is to be clean, but that just seems to be human nature.

So when you look at something and think it looks better than where you are now, don’t be so quick to go after it. Investigate first. Pray and see what God says, and remember, the grass is NOT always greener on the other side.

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FATHER'S DAY

Father’s Day is a special day to spend some extra time with your dad. An excuse to give him something you know he’s been needing or wanting. A special day to tell him again how much you love him and appreciate him. Does that sound about right?

I know plenty of people grow up without a dad, but many dads are there for their children and do a lot for them. They sacrifice a lot to make sure the whole family has the things they need. Things like food and clothing, and a roof over their heads. They help mothers to get the kids to school and to church, and to other places they like to go, like sports events, or a friend’s house.

Dad is there when you’re afraid. When you’re sick, when you need answers to life’s problems, or when you just need a hug. Father’s Day, once a year, gives us an opportunity to say “Thank You” to Dad for all the things he does. How did Father’s Day become so popular?

Mrs. John B. Dodd, of Washington, first proposed the idea of a “Father’s Day” in 1909. She wanted a special day to honor her dad, Civil War veteran, William Smart. His wife had died giving birth to her sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise the baby and his other five children alone. After Mrs. Dodd was an adult she remembered all the sacrifices her dad had made while raising her and her siblings all by himself.

The first Father’s Day was observed on June 19, 1910, in Spokane Washington. Around the same time, in other towns and cities across America, other people were beginning to celebrate “Father’s Day.” In 1924 President Coolidge supported the idea of a NATIONAL Father’s Day. Finally, in 1966, President Johnson signed a proclamation that declared the 3rd Sunday of June as Father’s Day. *

Father’s Day has been around for a while, and it’s a great time for dads, but it shouldn’t be about what we may get from our sons and daughters on our special day. Jesus said, “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.” So Dads, see what you can give your children this Father’s Day. Whether they’re 2 years old, 22, or 42. Give them a hug. Give them some extra time. Play a game. Be sure to give them your undivided attention, not just on this day, but any time they have something to say. That’s very important.

As dads, more often than not, we make mistakes with our children. That’s because we’re human. But our heavenly Father never makes a mistake. He knows what’s best for us. Although we don’t always agree with what He wants for us, we must understand that he still knows what’s best.

On this special day, if your dad is still living, go visit him and spend some time with him. That’s what I did the day I posted this, several years ago. I had no idea that it would be the last Father’s Day I would spend with him. No one lives forever, and the older your dad gets, the greater the chance he may not be here another year. If he lives too far away, be sure to give him a call. Let him know how much you appreciate him. If you don’t have a good relationship with your dad, do all you can to mend it. You’ll be glad you did. Forgiveness is a blessing, and Jesus tells us it’s very important.

The thing is, you don’t have to wait a whole year to do all these nice things for your dad or to get him something or spend time with him. Make time for him all year long. If your dad has passed away, then think about some good times you had with him, then talk to someone about him. Recalling those special times will be a blessing to you and to others as well.

As I said, some people don’t have a dad. Either he was never around, or he has passed away, or maybe you never knew him, but we still have a Father. Our heavenly Father is always there for us. We can have a Father’s Day with him every week. The seventh day Sabbath is a day that God made for us to rest and spend time with him because he loves us and wants to spend time with us.

One last note: In Matthew 23:9, Jesus says, “Do not call any man on earth FATHER because only One is your Father, and he is in heaven.” This is not a popular teaching but it’s the truth. What you do with it is up to you, but always remember your heavenly Father, and be sure to spend the day with him every Sabbath.

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father’s_Day_(United_States)

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Updated July 2023

DO RULES AND WARNINGS REALLY PROTECT US?

It was a beautiful day. Vivian and her two children were getting ready to go joyriding on their four-wheeler. Her niece Sally wanted to ride with them. There were four of them, but only one four-wheeler. How many people are supposed to ride on a four-wheeler at the same time? There are warnings on A.T.V.s that say “ONLY ONE RIDER AT A TIME.” But in spite of that warning, Vivian put all four kids on the four-wheeler with her.

I don’t know how long they rode, or how much fun they had, but somehow the four-wheeler flipped over on top of them. Vivian hit her head and was knocked out. When she regained consciousness, she could hear her son moaning and her daughter crying. Both her children were hurt and had cuts and broken bones, but Sally wasn’t so lucky. Vivian saw her lying there, her body all broken and twisted, and her face a dull blue color. One of the handlebars of the big four-wheeler had fallen on her neck and she died.

What a sad story. I feel so bad for Vivian and her family. Accidents happen, but many of them could be avoided by simply following rules and warnings. If Vivian had only heeded the warning, she and her children would not have suffered all the pain of that accident. They would not have had to spend all the time and money on physical therapy. If she had only obeyed the warning placed there by someone who knew more than she did about ATVs, her niece would not have had to suffer such a horrible death.

We’re given warnings for a reason, and most of the time they come from people who know more than we do. But, too often, these warnings go unheeded. God, who knows the end from the beginning, gives us warning after warning in His Word. He warned Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Genesis 2 16-17
16. Then the Lord God commanded the man, saying, You may freely eat from every tree in the garden:
17. But do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because, in the day that you eat from it, you will surely die.

God warned them, but they disobeyed and brought the curse of sin upon all the inhabitants of the Earth. God tells us what will happen if we don’t turn from our sinful ways and follow his laws, but many are ignoring his warnings even today. He also tells us that he’s coming back to rescue those who have been born again and to destroy sin once and for all.

John 14:1-3
1. Don’t let your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me. 
2. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if not, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 
3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself so that where I am, you may be also.

Unfortunately, all those who cling to sin will be destroyed in the lake of fire along with sin, Satan, and his angels.

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
7. To you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 
8. In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who don’t know God, and don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 
9. Who will be punished with eternal destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

A marvelous promise to those who obey God, and a terrible warning to those who refuse to obey. God loves us like a parent loves a child, and much more, no matter what we do or say, no matter how we act, and even if we never follow him. But like a parent, he can not excuse the wrong that we do.

He has a plan. We can be part of it if we want to, or we can choose to ignore his warnings and go our own way and do our own thing, but someday, God will put an end to sin once and for all. Please, don’t allow yourself to be destroyed with sin. Jesus wants to save you, but he won’t force you. He needs your permission.

Hebrews 5:9 says, 
9. And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation to all those who OBEY him;

John 3:36 says, 
36. He that believes in the Son has eternal life, and he that does not believe the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God rests on him.

2 Timothy 3:15 says, 
15. And since you were a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Romans 10:17 says,
17. So then faith comes through hearing and hearing through the word of God.

According to these verses, we gain faith in Jesus from reading and hearing the Bible. When we get to know him and believe in him, we can receive eternal life, and we will want to obey him. But, if we refuse to obey, God’s wrath rests on us.

One more warning;

Matthew 24:44
44. So you be ready also because the Son of man will come in an hour you do not expect.

Jesus says we need to be ready for his second coming. How can we be ready? Only by accepting his free gift of salvation. There’s nothing we can do to earn salvation, but we do have to accept it. God WILL NOT take anyone to heaven who does not want to go. Contrary to popular belief, we can’t live any way we want to and stay saved.

Hebrews 13:5 says,
5. Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have because he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.

That’s a quote from the old testament book of Deuteronomy, chapter 31 and verse 6.

Deuteronomy 31:6
6. Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them because it is the LORD your God, that goes with you. He will not fail you, nor forsake you.

Like most promises in God’s word, this Promise is conditional.

2 Chronicles 15:2 says, 
2. The LORD is with you, while you are with him, and if you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

The word of God is consistent throughout, from Genesis to Revelation. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the God of the Old Testament is a different God from the New Testament. Times have changed and people have changed, but God never changes. He’s a God of love, but he’s also a God of justice. He loves us all, and he has prepared the plan of salvation so everyone has a chance to be saved, but the Bible is clear that not everyone will be saved. Just believing is not enough. God requires obedience.

James 2:19
19. You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

James 2:20
20. But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

The works that James is talking about are not works to earn salvation but works we do because we are saved. Sin doesn’t stop being sin, just because we’re saved. Whatever was sin for an unsaved person is still sin after that person is saved.

Hebrews 10:26-27
26. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there is no more sacrifice for sins, 
27. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which will devour the adversaries.

We must OBEY God to remain saved. Heed his warnings. This is serious. Jesus is our only hope. Cling to him for dear life, and obey his rules. If we truly love him, we’ll WANT to obey. It’s hard sometimes even then, but Jude 1:24 says that he is able to keep us from falling if we just trust him and obey. That’s a beautiful promise, and something we should all hold on to.

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LESSONS ON THEJOURNEY - PART 1

It was a day like any other day in Cedar Creek. At least, like any other day for the last several weeks. Two months ago Herbert Brown and his family moved from the big city of River-Port, Mississippi to the quiet peaceful little town of Cedar Creek, more than two hundred miles away.  

As a child, growing up in River-Port, Herbert had made the long, tiring trip to Cedar Creek, with his family every summer to visit his aunt Bonnie for a week or two. He continued the tradition well into adulthood until last year when his aunt passed away. He and his family made the trip again to see her one last time.  

To Herbert’s surprise, he was told that his aunt had left him her home and property in her will. Herbert and his wife Charlotte decided that they would like to live there, out in the beautiful country, surrounded by nature, far from the hassles of city life that they had known for so many years. So with much prayer and preparation, they sold their house in Riverport and set out to make Cedar Creek, their new home.  

Now, two months after moving, they are starting to doubt whether or not they made the right decision. Well, at least Herbert is. After a long hard day, not at work, but looking for work, he walks up the steps to the door of the house he now calls home. He takes a deep breath and enters.

“Charlotte? Honey, I’m home”, he says. His wife of fourteen years enters the room and knows without even asking that the search for a new job will continue the following day.

As she walks toward him to give him a reassuring hug she says “Oh, honey. No luck?” “No, not today,” Herbert answers. Charlotte quickly says, “Don’t get discouraged, Dear. God is taking care of us. He’ll give you the right job at the right time. He’s got this.”

Herbert kisses his wife and smiles. Then he says, “You always know the right thing to say, sweetheart, and you’re right. God’s in control. Everything will be alright.”

He takes off his jacket, and as he puts it in the closet he says, “I saw Joe Kimble from church. He said he knows a guy who has been looking for a business partner. I’m supposed to meet him Monday morning. His name is Bob, uh, something or other.”

“That’s great dear. You can tell me about it over dinner. It’s almost ready,” Charlotte said. As she walks back into the kitchen her voice grows louder as she asks, “Will you call the kids? Billy’s in the backyard and Cindy is in her room. Mark is already in the dining room.”

As the brown family gathers to eat their evening meal, they pray, as always. They thank God for the food and the many other blessings he has showered upon them, and they ask him to bless others who are less fortunate than they themselves. Then they dig in. ---

Click the to read "Lessons On The Journey" Part 2

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THE ROAD TO HEAVEN

They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I’ve heard that quote all my life. In Matthew 7:13, Jesus said the road to hell is wide and there will be many people who find that road. He also said the road to heaven is narrow and not many people will find it. I don’t know about you, but I want to be on that narrow road that leads to heaven.

As we travel on the road to heaven, many times we get distracted by things on the sides of the road, and sometimes we even leave the road in pursuit of those things. I’ve been a Christian for more than half my life now, but there have been times in my walk with God that I was not faithful to him, either by doing things that I shouldn’t have done or by not doing things that I should have.

I’ve often felt like just giving up, and a couple of times I all but did. At times I have felt like the duties of the Christian life were just too much for me to perform. The standard seemed so high that I could never reach it, much less maintain it. I WANTED to do right. I WANTED to be holy. I knew what I SHOULD do, but, I didn’t always do it. I can relate to the Apostle Paul because I understand what he meant when he said, “I know there is nothing good in me, that is, in my flesh. I want to do what is right, but I do not have the ability to do it” (Romans 7:18).

I would look at other Christians who seemed to have it all together and say to myself, “I wish I could be like them.” I tried so hard to be a good person. I tried so hard to please God so I would be good enough to make it to heaven. I was trying to do all the right things for all the right reasons. Then I finally realized, that was the problem. I was trying to live a pure and holy life by my own strength.

When I saw what I was doing and started trusting more in God than in myself, things started moving in a positive direction. It’s all about a relationship with Jesus.

In my book called “The Journey To Heaven,” I share some things that I believe will help every struggling Christian finish this race on the winning side. God has a plan for each of us. We just need to Stop! Look! and Listen!

The enemy knows this as well so he will do everything he can to keep us from doing these three things. We need to examine the map that God has prepared for us. That map is the Holy Bible. If we fail to follow His map, we WILL be lost. So let’s run this race together, and win it together. I’ll see you on the other side.

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WHAT'S WRONG WITH DRINKING ALCOHOL?

What’s wrong with drinking alcohol? That’s a good question. Many people, including some Christians, say it’s okay to drink alcohol because Jesus turned water to wine at a wedding when he was here on earth. But, some say the “wine” Jesus made was pure, fresh grape juice, and not alcoholic at all. They say the word WINE in the original language of the Bible is used for “Alcoholic Wine”, “Vinegar” and also for “Non-Alcoholic Grape Juice.” Well, I don’t know. I wasn’t there, and I can’t speak, or read Hebrew, or Greek. Having said that, I do believe the Bible is the word of God, and I do believe God has preserved it for us today, and whatever we need to understand can be found in its pages. So, let’s see what the Bible says about drinking alcohol.

The Bible actually has a lot to say about this subject. In Deuteronomy, God, speaking to the Children of Israel, said this;

Deuteronomy 29:5-6
5 And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes have not become old on you, and your shoes have not become old on your feet.
6 You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or strong drink: so you might know that I am the LORD your God.

Here, God makes a clear difference between WINE and STRONG DRINK. He also says that NOT drinking wine and strong drink, helped them to know that He was their God. Could alcohol be impairing people’s knowledge of God today? Look at the next verse.

Proverbs 20:1
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whoever is deceived by them is not wise.

According to the word of God, Wine and Strong Drink are deceiving, and those who are deceived by them are not wise. Who wants to be deceived? I want to be wise. How about you?

Proverbs 31:4-6 says,
4 O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to drink strong drink,
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

First, these verses say that kings are not to drink wine. Revelation 1:6says if we have been born again, we are KINGS and Priests of God.

Revelation 1:6
6 And has made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Therefore, the Bible says Christians are not to drink wine. Strong drink is a given since it’s even worse.

Verse 4 says alcohol can make you forget the law of God. Who wants that? Anyone who has ever been drunk, or has been around people who were drunk, knows this to be true. Morals go right out the window. People do things when they drink that they might not normally do.

Isaiah 28:7
7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink, they are off the path. The priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink. They are swallowed up by wine, they are out of the way through strong drink. They err in vision, and they stumble in judgment.

This is what happens to God’s people who drink alcohol. They do wrong. They get off the right path, and out of the true way. They forget the law. They can not rightly discern God’s will, and they have poor judgment. Wow! Does that sound like a good condition to be in? It’s hard enough to keep a clear mind in today’s world without the influence of alcohol. We certainly don’t need to add to the problem.

Isaiah 5:11 says,
11 Woe to those who rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; who continue until night, till wine inflames them!

Isaiah 5:22 says,
22 Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength, to mix strong drink:

With all these negative things the Bible says about it, I can’t understand how anyone who knows this can still believe it’s okay to drink alcohol. Especially a Christian. I used to drink, so I know, first hand, the power that alcohol possesses. Not just the power to make a person drunk, but the power to lower our defenses so that things we know are wrong don’t really seem all that bad. It not only destroys the body and the mind, but also the lives of many who drink it, and the lives of those around them. The Bible also gives us this final and most harsh warning. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 gives us a list of people who WILL NOT make it into heaven.

1Corinthians 6:9-10
9 Don’t be deceived: Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Neither will fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor DRUNKARDS, nor revilers, nor extortioners. None of these will inherit the kingdom of God.

Drinking can make you drunk. Those who get drunk are drunkards, and God plainly says they WILL NOT get into heaven. They are lost. Do you understand that? It sounds harsh, but that’s what the word of God says. Why take the chance? Don’t risk it. It would be so sad to miss heaven because of alcohol.

Yes, they drank wine in the bible days, and yes, the disciples of Jesus drank wine. But, with all the negative things the scriptures say about alcohol, there’s no way the Son of God would condone drinking intoxicating wine, much less make it for people who had already been drinking that day. He would have been disobeying the next scripture which would be sinning, and we all know Jesus never sinned. Otherwise, he could not have been our spotless sacrifice.

Habakkuk 2:15 says,
15 Woe to him that gives his neighbor drink, that puts a bottle to him and makes him drunken…

The wine Jesus made was NOT alcoholic. Wine in the Bible is often called The Fruit Of The Vine. Grapes are the “Fruit Of The Vine.” This was Grape Juice.

Now, I understand that grape juice does not remain fresh forever. It will ferment after some time, but natural fermentation of grapes does not produce the percentage of alcohol that the adding of sugar and yeast that goes into “Wine Making” produces. The “Strong Drink” was mixed for the purpose of getting drunk, but the fresh “Wine” was pure grape juice. First sweet when fresh, then when it had sat for a period of time, it fermented.

Natural fermentation produces very little alcohol because the natural yeast dies when alcohol forms.* You have to add extra yeast AND sugar to make the process continue for the alcohol content to increase. The natural conditions at any given time determine if the grape juice will naturally turn to sweet wine or vinegar. If it’s covered or bottled, it turns to sweet wine, but if it is uncovered, it turns to vinegar.

Yes, they drank both fresh wine, and naturally fermented wine in Jesus’ day, but people would have had to drink a lot of naturally fermented wine to get drunk, which is what the bible condemns; Drunkenness.

Probably even stronger than the “Strong Drink” that the Bible condemns, today’s alcohol is very destructive. The organization called MADD (Mother’s Against Drunk Driving) says there are 300,000 incidents in the United States every day caused by drinking and driving.** In 2005 the CDC (Center for Disease Control) reported that Alcohol causes the deaths of 75,000 people each year.*** By 2013 that number had risen to 88,000 deaths per year.**** In 2016, the number rose to 10,497.*****

That’s a devastating number of people who die each year from either drinking alcohol, or from coming in contact with a person who is, or has been drinking. Many people who drink, die from liver disease, they commit suicide, they beat people to death, shoot and kill people, including spouses and children. They kill themselves, and innocent people by driving while drinking. Do you really think God approves of something so devastating? If you want to drink alcohol, drink it, but remember what a powerful, deadly drug it really is. Remember that the Bible condemns it, and those who drink it, and stop twisting God’s word to try and justify sin. Be honest with yourself, and take responsibility for your choices. It’s time to stop the MADDness.

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*
http://www.morethanorganic.com/fermentation

**
http://www.madd.org/

*** http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6089353/ns/health-addictions/t/alcohol-linked-us-deaths-year/#.Uv-F4SqF84M

****
http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm

*****
https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html