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 When God provided Adam and Eve with a perfect diet of green herbs
and fruits, their drink consisted, presumably, of fruit juices and
clear, sparking water from springs and streams.

Just which of their descendants discovered that fruit juices left too
long in heat would ferment and produce a narcotic
fluid, no one knows.  Within the first ten chapters of your
Bible, you will find the sad and sordid story of the first drunkard.

From that day to this, uncounted millions have made the same mistake
as Noah; drinking of alcoholic beverages have brought them shame and
disgrace, sickness and ruin.  

God is love and it grieves Him to see men and women made in  His image
behaving foolishly.  He has left on
record many strong warnings against this form of self indulgence.

Best known of all is one of King Solomon's Proverbs called "Wine is
a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby
is not wise."  
(Proverbs 20:1)

"WINE IS A MOCKER"
Alcohol in any form is a mocker because it does not and cannot fulfill
the hopes of those who partake of it.  They
think it will bring the relief of worry but when the money is spent
and the wine is drunk, their troubles remain, accentuated.  Another
bottle, another glass would do it, the drinker fondly believes, but
each one leads him farther from his goal.  Each drink makes him less
able to appreciate the truly beautiful things of life for which, in
his heart of hearts, he longs.  The wine mocks him, laughing at his
weakness and folly.

"Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling?
Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes?" (Proverbs
23:29)  Ask the wise man.  Here is his answer: "They
that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine." (Proverbs
23:30)

He adds this warning:
"Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color
in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.  At last it biteth like a
serpent, and stingeth like an adder."  (Proverbs 23: 31-32)

Graphically picturing the effects of alcohol he says;
"Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter
perverse things.  Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst
of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.  They have
stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me,
and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again." 
(Proverbs 23: 33-35)

ISAIAH ON WINE
This was written three thousand years ago, but its meaning is timeless:
alcohol affects every generation in the same way. Hundreds of years
after Solomon, the prophet Isaiah gave this admonition to the people
of Judah: 
"Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow
strong drink; that continue unto night, until wine inflame them!  And
the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and the pipe, and wine, are in
their feasts:  but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider
the operation of his hands.  Therefore my people are gone into captivity,
because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished,
and their multitude dried up with thirst."  (Isaiah 5:11-13)

A similar warning appears in the same chapter:
"Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength
to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked  for reward, and take
away the righteousness of the righteous from him!  Therefore as the
fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their
root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust:
because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised
the word of the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 5:22-24)

DRUNKARDS OF EPHRAIM
Your Bible is most definite that there is a terrible price to pay for
permitting alcohol to mar God's handiwork by stupefying the brain and
confusing the judgement.

To the "drunkards of Ephraim"  Isaiah wrote this powerful denunciation:
"Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest
of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing,
shall cast down to the earth with the hand.  The crown of pride, the
drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:  And the glorious
beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower,
and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh
upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.  In that
day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem
of beauty, unto the residue of his people, and for a spirit of judgement
to him that sitteth in judgement, and for strength to them that turn
the battle to the gate. But they also have erred through wine, and
through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet
have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they
are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble
in judgement."     (Isaiah 28:2-7)

These effects of drinking wine were also noted by the prophet Hosea
who was a contemporary of Isaiah. "Whoredom and wine and new wine take
away the heart."  (Hosea 4:11) 

PRIESTLY OFFICE-STRONG DRINK
God spoke some strong words to Aaron regarding the use of wine by those
who minister the priestly office:
"Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee,
when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it
shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: And that ye
may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and
clean;
And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which
the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses." (Leviticus 10:
9-11)

In this connection it is significant that in the days of ancient Israel,
when a man made a special dedication of his life to God he took a pledge
of total abstinence.  You will find a record in the sixth chapter in
the book of Numbers verses one to three,
"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children, and
say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to
vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the Lord: He shall
separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar
of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he any liquor of
grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried."

TOTAL ABSTINENCE?
In the days of Jeremiah, there was a family known as the Rechabites,
who had adopted this program of total abstinence.  As a test of their
fidelity the prophet set before them "Pots full of wine, and cups,"
and told them to drink.  They refused, the leader saying,
"But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonacab the son of Rechab
our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye,
nor your sons for ever:  Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed,
nor plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell
in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers.
Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father
in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we,
our wives, our sons, nor our daughters;"  (Jeremiah 35: 5-8)

Because of their noble stand Jeremiah said to them,
"Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Because ye have
obeyed the commandments of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts,
and done according unto all that he hath commanded you: Therefore thus
saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab
shall not want a man to stand before me for ever."  (Jeremiah 36:18
19)

Thus far your Bible tells about the manifold results of alcohol. It
also reveals that all down the centuries there have been those who
have refused to be deceived by it and it makes very clear where God
stands in the matter.

IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
Turning to the new testament, we find that the apostle Paul had a great
deal to say about unwise drinking. "Let us walk honestly, as in the
day; not in rioting and drunkenness" (Romans 13:13)

To the Ephesians he sent a warning: "And be not drunk with wine, wherein
is excess;" (Ephesians 5:18)

As for the Galatians, they were told that drunkenness would keep them
out of the Kingdom of God.
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,
variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings,
murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell
you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do
such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God."  (Galatians 5:19
21)

This was no idle threat as evident from a statement in his first letter
to the Corinthians:
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of
God? Be not deceived neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers,
nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves,
nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall
inherit the Kingdom of God."  (I Corinthians 6:9-10)

DRUNKENNESS A DISEASE?
Some people say that drunkenness - or alcoholism, (to use the modern
word) - is a disease, but your Bible disagrees.  It says plainly that
it is a sin.  Persons who allow themselves to get drunk were the worst
of sinners.

Jesus put himself on record at this point.  When explaining one of
his parables to his disciples he pictured an unfaithful servant who
began to "beat the menservants and the maidens, and to eat and drink,
and to be drunken:
"At long last said Jesus, a day of reckoning will come.  The master
of that servant will return "when he looketh not for him, and at an
hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint
him his portion with the unbelievers."  (Luke 12:45-46)

Speaking specifically to those who shall be living just prior to His
second advent He warned,
"Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged
with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that
day come upon you unawares."  (Luke 21:34)

From all these passages of scripture it is clear that the consumption
of alcohol is a most serious matter in the eyes of God.  And no wonder!
It does so much harm both to the person who drinks it and to others
who are affected by this foolish and often criminal action.

ALCOHOL ABUSE TODAY?
According to the 1995 Universal Almanac health and medicine report,
alcohol consumption is the nation's most common drug abuse problem.
According to the 1992 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, approximately
ninety-eight million people age twelve and over currently use alcohol.
About ten million Americans were heavy drinkers.

The economic cost of alcohol abuse were estimated to be $98.6 billion
in 1990. Alcohol is believed to be implicated in half of all homicides
and all traffic fatalities, and One-third of all suicides. It also
takes an immeasurable emotional toll on family and relationships.

Of the more than ninety-eight million Americans who drink, at least
ten million are alcoholics.  Problem drinkers are increasing at the
rate of two hundred and fifty thousand a year.  Studies show that men
are heavier drinkers than women and younger people more than older
people. 

In Britain more than five hundred deaths and twenty five thousand injuries
a year are caused by drinking drivers or pedestrians according to the
British Medical Record.

In France according to the National Institute Of Statistics seventeen
thousand five hundred persons died in one year because of alcoholism.
Of these count, fourteen thousand one hundred and seventy six accounted
to cirrhosis of the liver.

So the story of tragedy and sorrow caused by alcohol could be traced
clear around the world.

WHAT OTHERS SAY...
I agree with Robert Ingersoll when he said of strong drink: "It cuts
down youth in its vigor, manhood in its strength, old age in its weakness.
It produces weakness not strength, sickness not health, death not life.
It makes wives widows, children orphans, fathers thieves, and all of
them paupers and beggars.  It fills the jails, supplies alms houses,
and demands asylums.  It engenders controversies, fosters quarrels,
cherishes riots. It crowds penitentiaries and furnishes victims for
scaffolds.  It is the son of all villainies, the father of all crimes,
the mother of all abominations.  It is the devil's best friend and
God's worst enemy."

With this dynamic denunciation all the latest discoveries of medical
science are in total agreement. 

Says Doctor Haven Emerson: "Alcohol is a common depressant, a habit
forming narcotic drug, ... a protoplasmic poison." 

"Alcohol causes disease.  Alcohol causes deaths from acute and chronic
poisoning.  Alcohol reduces resistance to infections, such as pneumonia."

"Alcohol reduces endurance, and rapidity of muscular reaction of all
kinds even when used in such small amounts as to show effects inappreciable
subjectively by the user."

"Alcohol decreases expectancy of life. Alcohol reduces the chance of
survival of offspring.  Alcohol deteriorates emotionally nervous control
as expressed an unreliable judgement and self control."

All of this is true, the wine and beer advertisements notwithstanding.
Thousands of doctors, judges, sports champions, and other public figures
testify that alcohol in any form should never be introduced into the
human body.

HEALTH CONSEQUENCES
Alcohol is toxic or poisonous. Excessive alcohol intake affects many
organs of the body. Primary problems include:
1. Liver damage (inflammation and destruction of liver cells)
2. Cancer. Heavy drinkers increase their chances of cancer of the
liver, mouth and esophagus.
3. Nervous system damage
4. Fetal Damage (fetal alcohol syndrome is a disorder which causes
physical and mental defects in infants)



IDENTIFYING ALCOHOLISM
The following were among thirty-three statements used in a national
survey of alcohol use and alcohol-related problems conducted by NIAAA.
Survey participants responded "True or False" to each statement. 
A person who answer "True" to at least one statement may be an alcohol
abuser or an alcoholic.
-I have often taken a drink the first thing when I get up in the morning.
-I deliberately tried to cut down or quit drinking, but was unable
to do so.
-Once I started drinking it was difficult for me to stop before I
became completely intoxicated.
-I have had a quick drink when no one was looking.
-I have skipped a number of regular meals while drinking.
-I have awakened the next day not being able to remember some of the
things I had done while drinking.
-I have lost a job, or nearly lost one, because of my drinking.
-My drinking contributed to my getting hurt in a accident (in a car
or elsewhere).
-A physician suggested I cut down on drinking.
-I have stayed away from work or gone to work late because of a hangover.

GOD'S ELECT
To the dedicated Christian, the person who loves God with all his heart
and soul and mind and strength, this can mean but one thing - total
abstinence, especially if he cannot control himself beyond the first
drink.  For the minister of God  "He is not to be given to wine."

Paul said to the Corinthians: "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink,
or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God..." (I Corinthians
10:31)

How can anyone glorify God by partaking of a poison that brings untold
harm to the person who drinks it an incalculable sorrow and suffering
to millions of others?

To glorify God in our bodies we must avoid the use of any beverage
likely to do it damage, including not only whisky, wine and beer but
other drinks containing harmful amounts of caffeine and similar alcohol.
If one is completely surrendered to the will of God, they could drink
these beverages temperately in moderation, with no harmful effect;
but it seems that very few people are able to drink a cup of coffee
a day and then to leave it at that, let alone a glass of wine a day
and to stop.  For these people it is best to leave all these beverages
alone altogether and do it to the glory of God.

In this matter, and all others the motivating force should be love.
When we love God sincerely we shall want to glorify Him in every way
we can.  When we love our neighbor as ourselves we shall gladly resist
any practice that might harm him or set before him a bad example.

Such love like this is "fruit of the Spirit." (Galatians 5:22)
When God comes into the heart by His Holy Spirit He brings out the
warmth, beauty and purity of His love. Like sunlight shining through
a prison that will reveal itself in its radiant views of:
"Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness,
temperance: against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23)

Herein lies the secret of the temperate life, a life of "self control"
a life that does not have to be propped up by false stimulants.  It
is lived by the indwelling power of the Spirit of God, producing those
heavenly graces that are a foretaste of the enduring joy of the Kingdom
of God eternal.