" DRINKING / ALCOHOL"

Good Morning All,

I find myself thinking about how much I truly love my Lord and God. I'm also reflecting on my past missteps in life and I wonder why the lord has allowed me to share with you. I'm sure that most of you are aware that I didn't give my life to the Lord until I was a man of 34 years of age. I am still a young man in the eyes of the Lord, 61 years on this earth. I've come to realize that their is a consequence for everything, now or later.
Yesterday when I was in prayer with some of my Prayer Accountability Partners I was reminded that the End Times are upon us. I for one believe that it's high time for all of us to account for our past and present actions.

Do you know that your body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN (1 Cor. 3:16). I once abused my body, my temple, before I gave my life to Jesus Christ.
I did what ever I was big enough to do. I confess that I smoked cigarettes and drank alcohol. Yes, I admit that in my younger days I was UNWISE and followed what advertisers suggested. In the 60's and 70's everyone smoked cigarettes and drank alcoholic beverages, and I followed suit like a dumb sheep. I thought that was the cool thing to do, people in the 60's believed in living for today. In the gospels Jesus speaks of the rich fool who thought that he had everything, to the point of saying to himself; " take your ease, drink and be merry". We must be mindful that our actions today may have repercussions that affect our families.

Proverbs 20:1 "Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise". I have not abused my body/temple in nearly thirty years. The Merriam - Webster Dictionary defines "Alcohol " As a colorless flammable liquid that is the intoxicating agent in fermented and distilled liquors.
Drunkenness might be understandable among dying people in great pain, but it is inexcusable for our national leaders. Go to the book of Ester; and read about King Ahasuerus of Persia who was a very proud and also impulsive individual.
Now, once upon a time King Ahasuerus made a very rash, half drunk decision, based purely on his feelings. His lack of control and practical wisdom were weakened by too much of the vine. Poor decisions are made when people don't think clearly. Always factor the Lord into all of your decisions, with clear thinking, not on the emotions of the moment. Impulsive decision making leads to severe complications.

Alcohol always clouds the mind and can lead to injustice and again poor decision making every time. We tend to think that we're in control and that we can solve our problems by drowning them in alcohol.
The calmative sensation of alcohol is only temporary. Real relief comes from dealing with the cause of the anguish and sorrow and turning to the Father for peace. A word of wisdom don't lose yourself in the bottom of a bottle; find the peace that you seek in the Lord. What you find in the bottle is not real, I would think that one would have better things to do than anesthetize oneself with alcohol.

Until Next Time...

Jim