The Curse of Alcoholic Drink-part 5
Proverbs 20:1
“1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”
In Proverbs 23 God describes very clearly what alcoholic drink does. Many a person has ended up in trouble with the law, in trouble with the banks, in trouble with their wife or their husband, in trouble with the family, etc. due to the consumption of liquor. This trouble has brought many sorrows. Far too many divorces can be credited in part at least to the consumption of liquor. Far too many road crashes have been credited to the consumption of liquor.
Contentions and babbling also come from this sinful vice. Arguments that lead to greater troubles and complaints and thoughts that are not even worthy of our time and yet they come as the result of alcohol consumption. Wounds without cause is another result of liquor consumption. People who fall down in their drunkenness. People who cut themselves and many other things. Then also the redness of the eyes caused by this same sinful vice.
God tells us in verse 30 where all this comes from. It comes from the consumption of alcoholic drink. We already know from Proverbs 20:1 that any consumption of alcoholic drink is foolish and sin. Thus we do not need to try to find a loophole in Proverbs 23:30 regarding the words “tarry long”. The Bible tells us to flee sin, not to tarry where it is. A person cannot flee sin unless He flees to the cross of Jesus Christ and is set free from the bondage of sin through the new birth. When God gives the person a new nature through salvation, he then has the ability to flee sin, including alcoholic drink. It is true that there are people who have walked away from liquor and are still lost. There are those who claim that AA has helped them to stay sober. A major difference between AA and true salvation is that AA keeps its followers crippled and dependent upon their meetings to try to help them stay sober. They are taught to be dependent upon a fallible man-centerer program. When a person turns to God and is genuinely saved through the blood of Jesus Christ they are delivered from the power of sin and can turn away from liquor and the draw of liquor.
John 1:12
“12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”
God’s gift of salvation is like none other. Nothing can compete with it and nothing can replace it.
Proverbs 23 continues to show the effects of liquor. The drunkard continues to go back for more even though he has been beaten up in more ways than one by this poison. The numerous bars and liquor stores we see all around are testimony to this fact. This is not good for the economy and it is certainly not good for the individuals involved. Again, it is hard to convince those who are deceived by this poison of this fact, but nevertheless it is the fact.