I have an idea for t shirt that should sell very well. Taken seriously, it
is a warning, taken as a joke it is a sad statement, but taken without a
prescription is deadly. “MEDICATED FOR YOUR PROTECTION!” reads my newest shirt,
and in the general state of world affairs, too many are medicated. Self
medicated. Government medicated. Medicated by the lure of no tomorrows.
Medicated just to get me through today. It starts in school, when Billy pulls
Patty’s hair, and he is ruled with ADD or STP when really he is just a KID. But
being out of control, not under someone’s control, he is medicated. Changing
his personality, his play habits, and having someone else control him. He is
dumbed down, able to be better controlled, by a teacher, school system, or
government that knows best for us. Later as he becomes unproductive, he is a
long term ward of the state, they still know what is best for him until the day
he dies. All the time a victim of nothing more than being a kid, but rather of
a state that wants to control him. And at first it sounds good to his parents,
but soon they become depressed because he is not normal, and soon they have
anxiety attacks and more drugs prescribed. And soon you have a whole family
medicated, but not for their protection, or even ours. But some faceless,
faithless state that wants us all to be the same, to be under their control.
Confused? Don’t let them know, there is a pill for that too. And if you are
lucky, your insurance provider will cover it, with only a co-pay. To the end,
the government knows best. Just ask them, just don’t identify yourself.
From saltpeter for soldiers and inmates, to Retalin, for our last
generation of playful kids, many new prescription drugs are available today.
Many tested on us without our knowledge, and definitely not our consent. But
many illegal drugs are used with our consent, just not the governments. And
some that are legal, alcohol for instance, take a toll on daily lives, families,
careers, and ruin lives at all ages and social levels. I have never met anyone
who had a horrible life and alcohol made it better? Or when trying to become
more successful, found drugs or alcohol the secret ingredient to success. Early
in my business career, I learned not to drink, but to encourage my opponent.
Any advantage I could get I needed, and many fell willingly into the trap. And
never got out. The best advice I was given was, “if you never start, you will
never be an alcoholic.” Works for drugs, sex before marriage, and other types
of sin also. Decisions we make, unaware of the consequences, thinking it will
never happen to us. All the time, we are medicated, insolated from reality, and
although reality can be rough, at least it is real. And real I can deal
with...
So what does the Bible tell us about drinking? We are told in Proverbs 20
wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and leads to fights. Sound familiar?
But rather we are told Ephesians 5 do not be drunk with wine, it is dissipation,
but be drunk with the spirit. Filled, one way a sin, another a blessing. And
Jesus tells us that no one who has tasted of the new wine He offers, wants to go
back to the old wine of before. But what is this new wine He offers? Is it
over the counter, must you 21, or is it a new drug only available by
prescription? Now before you start quoting the Bible, I didn’t realize you read
it, to defend the fact Jesus turned water into wine, His first miracle, know
this, it was new wine, not old, fermented wine. And a symbol of the Holy
Spirit, the new wine Jesus promises believers. It represented joy, the joy of
Jesus, and of that wedding day to come when we are united with Him in heaven.
And it is offered to all who desire it, in fact we are given the holy spirit
when we are saved. But few choose to fully explore His full potential, no ads
on TV for it, no discounts on holidays, and no age limits, know that it is given
in love. So that we can live a fuller, more productive life in Christ, until
that day of His return. And it was that same spirit that led us to Christ. And
still comforts us today...many times without our even knowing it, acknowledging
it, or thanking Him. And there is no law against it, in fact it fulfills the
law, just like Jesus did, and sets us free. Now what are you drinking? Make
mine Jesus, straight up, neat. The way life should be, able to enjoy every
blessing coming our way.
But many times it is the blessings that avoid us, or we avoid them. Where
to turn then? Turn to friends like Job did, and you end up defending them, and
still turning to God. Be like Jonah and run, and end up on a three day all
expense paid cruise to where God wanted him in the first place. But below
deck. Maybe my old friend Larry, he of 28 kills for pay, 7 for revenge, as he
talked to young girls one night said it best. “You can be knocked over the head
and taken away to be done with whatever that person wants to do with you. You
never know when you cross over the limit. And taking the first drink is
crossing over that limit.” Is that what you want for your daughter? Born again
after years in prison, God saved him and changed his life. Still listening? Or
maybe the words of Nahum sound familiar, “when drunk you will find refuge from
your neighbor,” but how do you tell if he is friend or foe? You will try to
hide your sin, but it will still be evident. And evidence, not what I want to
show the world of my life in Christ.
So to all who find it trendy to drink wine, you are falling under another
spirit’s control. And causing a food shortage soon, as the grapes now grow
where corn, beans, broccolli once grew, and cattle once grazed. How much did
the bottle of Two Buck Chuck really cost? But my advice to my sons is what I
want to leave you with. I asked them “how would you feel if you needed me and I
couldn’t come because I had been drinking?” Suddenly it is more personal than
ever. Learn from Larry, listen to my advice, but always go to Jesus. And next
time you are hugging the porcelian shrine of too much to drink, ask where the
god found in the bottle is to help you? My God is alive and well, and there
with me, and you when you need Him. Clean and sober in ways we cannot imagine,
but need. No prescription needed, first thing in the morning and last one at
night. And in the in between times, He is there too. And tells us He will
drink no wine before His time, His return. He is the fresh wine, the new life,
and the vine He wants us to be part of. He is life without the possibility of
parole. He is what we need, and who we need. Make the choice now of who’s
control you wish to be under, Jesus or the state? Suddenly that funny shirt
isn’t so funny. Live life in Christ today to its fullest, let nothing get
between you and God. His spirit is not only free, but sets you free. Wake up
free and clear headed every morning, or be like God warns in Jeremiah 25,
“drink, be drunk, and vomit.” Sounds like an easy choice to me. Especially
when He warns that a sword is coming for those who are drunk. Jesus Christ,
maybe He makes more sense than you realize. Clean and sober has never been so
much fun.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com