Continuing with the interactive Bible series for Genesis, reading in chapters 7, 8 & 9, I was once again struck with God's involvement in people's lives.
God delivered Noah and his family with the provision of the ark, but God didn't just plop an ark into existence. He told Noah what to do and Noah obeyed. After a very long time on the boat, God spoke to Noah again, telling him to go out of the ark. Like before, Noah obeyed and the Bible says he was thankful to God.
God's response? God blessed Noah and his sons and put them in charge over the earth, just like God did with Adam. God once again proclaims the sanctity of life and prompts the productivity of life. God had not changed his mind. Life is precious because man is made in His image.
God himself establishes a covenant, an everlasting promise to never flood the entire earth again and he paints his signature in the sky - a rainbow - a signature that we can still see in our everyday lives.
Sadly, however, Noah, with his remarkable obedience did something after he left the boat that made a heap of trouble for himself and his family. You can read about it at the end of Genesis chapter nine.
Now I'm going to venture into a subject that seems to be a sore spot with many Christians. Noah planted a vineyard. Was there anything wrong with that? No. But what he did with his vineyard was another story. He wasn't just eating grapes.
The Bible says in Genesis 9:21, "Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent." After that a shameful incident happened with one of his sons.
The bottom line is this, Noah left himself wide open for trouble. He got drunk. The Bible doesn't say how many drinks he had. How many drinks does it take to get drunk or to just get inebriated enough to be negatively affected? Of for that matter, negatively affect the life of someone else?
Now this is the spot where some may disagree with me. In fact, some Christians might call me "straight edged". Believe me I face it at my son's Christian school. The stand I take about refraining from alcohol is by far in the minority. Over the summer, some Christian kids used those exact words about my son when he refused to drink with them at a offsite campfire. Praise God my son got up and walked away asking anyone who wanted to come to leave with him. A few did.
Here's my thoughts on drinking: Don't do it. Why put yourself in a position that could lead to trouble? Maybe it could result in a driving accident. Maybe, like in Noah's case it could negatively affect your child. Friends, I've seen both happen to Christians and their lives are forever changed and not for the better.
As far as I'm concerned, alcohol never leads to good. Some have said, "What about Jesus turning the water into wine?" Well, I ask you this question: What type of wine was it? Grape juice - non fermented wine.
Welch's anyone?
Disagree? You have that right. But let me just encourage you to think about this: How many families have been torn apart, devastated because of alcohol? Like I've said before, I've seen it happen first hand. Why play with fire? Why put yourself and your family in that recipe for disaster?There was a prominent lawyer turned politician whose son attended my son's Christian school when my oldest was in elementary. This man spoke at one of the school's chapels, encouraging the kids to live for God and follow the Lord. Our boys even played in the same township baseball league. One night, he hit something while driving in Pennsylvania's state capitol. He had been drinking. That something he hit wasn't a road sign... he hit a person and the person was killed. My heart breaks for this family that has been torn apart. They have been in my prayers through the years.
Can people be responsible and drink? Maybe. But it only takes one time... and who knows who will become addicted. Can it happen? Yes. It does. Am I straight edged? Yes.
So, think about this question: In what way do I affect myself and my family with my choices about drinking? Only you can answer that question.
Do we casually talk about drinking, joke about it, make light of it and then wonder why our children make the choices they do? I challenge us today, to think and act responsibly. It just may save a life. Let's live for the Lord Jesus Christ and not let ANYTHING hinder us.
"Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but FOR THE WILL OF GOD, For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles--when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead." I Peter 3:1-5
Live the adventure,
4 comments:
Wow what a thought provoking post. It is better to take a stand than to go with the flow and I do praise you for having the conviction to state how you feel. How can anyone every feel offended by this I will never know. And I do occasionally have a drink of wine but I am doing that less and less these days. I just don't get anything out of it although I do like a glass of wine with my dinner. Getting drunk is another story and although I do stay clear of that, I often wonder if even one glass affects one's judgement. God will direct me though and I will follow His direction.
I do have a problem understanding that verse though. I will admit that because I didn't understand it, I forgot exactly what happened. The part I don't understand is why Noah was offended when his son told the other sons. Maybe it wasn't because he told that his father was naked as much as it was that he told others that his father was drunk.
Thanks for making me think in more ways than one.
I tell you, Susan, it is so refreshing to see someone who is "straight-edged" for a change. It seems in Christianity anymore that anything goes. I am with you all the way, and you have expressed my sentiments exactly far more eloquently than I ever could, so I will not add to what you have said, other than a hearty "Amen."
Good post and hurrah for your son!
Okay folks so here's my answer to my own question. I hope and pray that my choices about alcohol affect my chilren in a postive way, keeping them safe at home and on the road and for their health. Ultimately, our children will make their own choices and be accountable before God, but I pray that I can be a postive example and set safe guidelines and principles that they can follow and apply in their everyday lives when faced with temptation.
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