I was a non-Christian from birth till 12 years. So I live with a non-Christian, ate and drank with a non-Christian, joined all the festivals such as Therinyie, Sekrenyie, Mounyie etc. with non-Christians. When my father was converted to Christianity we all became Christians so he broke all the wine pots and jars into pieces and threw the broken pieces away in the drainage and he became a strong believer of Christ. He completely stopped drinking wine.
I resolved not only should I drink in secret anymore but I should never show my childrens seeing me holding wine cup. I completely stopped drinking wine before my male child were formed in their mother’s womb. I accompanied the people who drink wine as in my village most of them drink and when they drank I saw many unpleasant things against what they do after drunk. I also have seen them behaving the way they should not. So, I appeal every sensible person to take a decision like what I have decided. After I stopped drinking wine, my health improved, and I had peace of mind.
Many drunken people start drinking wine from morning and go to office. They drink wine and travel by bus, by taxi or by any vehicle causing inconvenience to other co-passengers. People who drink heavily cause their family to great trouble and mental or spiritual distress. They do not care for their life and their soul. They do not heed the advice of their loving parents, brothers and sisters and friends because wine is merciless. Many who fail to escape form wine live in darkness and die as a prey to wine.
Wine took away the life of many drunk drivers driving vehicles and all other occupants sitting in the vehicle. It took the life of many officers where the drivers drive consuming alcohol. The vehicles are condemned because of accident and even when it is repaired, it involved heavy expenditure. Some injured persons become handicapped because of accident. How cruel is wine that causes such disaster. The manufacturer, the dealer, the seller should realized all these consequences and what would be their reward on the day of Judgment.
How merciful is our Creator ‘God’ who send His Son Jesus to this world who lived with mankind, preached the Gospel, did miracles and suffered for us and died in our place for people who obeyed His command. I was also one of those among the lost but saved by obeying His command. I experienced both good and bad life. Si I never hesitate to share the life I have come across. Many people considering the reality and appreciate but many people do not tell the truth. We have to be true to our friends.
When I was young and drank alcohol I was far away from God but when I stop drinking, I become closer to God. I have seen many of my friends who stopped drinking wine early are economically much better than those who gave up drinks later. My batch-mates are all non-Christians, but some who had converted to Christianity and gave up drinks early settled far better than those who gave up drinks latter. They are also better in almost every field. Alcohol does not excuse anyone whether one drinks more or less and whether one drinks whole day or one hour or so in a day. They suffer in one way or the other.
All those who become addicted to alcohol become slave of wine and live in bondage. Therefore when all are born as a free men and women why give a chance to alcohol to enslave you? Your freedom is your birthright and we should not allow wine to control us.
Proverb 20:1 says: Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise. Romans 14:21 says: It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. Ephesians 5:18 says: Do not drink on wine, which leads to debauchery, instead filled with spirit.
People do not spent much on food and clothing for the family but always finds a means to buy wine hence anyone who get drunk use more money of their net income whereas less amount of the net income goes to the kitchen. So frankly speaking, majority of the members are starving while one gets drunk had no love and compassion for others who are at home. But when you fell sick, the friends who share your money in drinking day and night will disappear and your family will look after you. The doctors and nurses whom you never spent a cup of tea with them, will attend your sickness when you fell sick. Your friends and relatives who do not want to talk to you when you are drunk will also come, see you at your sick bed and help you.
Your company of drunken friend/friends will be afraid to see you when they hear that you are sick and lying on your bed or in the hospital. They will feel shy to meet your family. The dealer who gives you wine with smiling faces and an agent who brings wine to you will never come to see you when they hear that you are sick and cannot recover. So whom should you love “the wine dealer or you friend who invites you for drinks or your family members? (If one controls the urge for wine, the money used for wine can be invested to use on the necessities for the family. It takes a lot of courage and ‘will power’ to totally give up wine but men with integrity and faith will always win). So it is you to decide whether you die living under the bondage of wine or give up wine and live as a free man in Christ.
Zachive Thele,
NCS (NCS Rtd)
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