Alcohol

Take a good look at this sunset, while you page down to the writing at the bottom. I had a dream about a sunset similar to this one that I'd like to share with you. The colours were similar but the whole sky was covered in clouds... more than in this picture!

Does God mind when we drink alcohol?

I grew up in the Seventh-day Adventist church. I made friends with some people who weren't christians and I started drinking with them. I had some trouble, trying to figure out if alcohol is really as bad as people say. I was confused and I said to God, "God, I don't know what to believe. Alcohol seems like a natural drink to me. And if I don't drink to get drunk, but just to relax, I don't see how it can be wrong. Please show me whether it's wrong or not."

Then one day, I had a dream that I will never forget.

I dreamt I was at an Adventist Sabbath opening. And in my dream I went outside to see if I could see the sunset. God knows I love sunsets and I always take photos of them. There were some guys standing outside with their hands in their pockets, talking after the Bible study. I looked at the sky, but I couldn't see any sunset. It was a miserable sight actually. The clouds were dark and horrible.

Then all of a sudden, the dream changed and I was with my "worldly" friends. I was at a girl's house and she was all energised to have a good time that night. We were chatting and laughing and then she phoned a guy friend of ours and asked him if he wanted to go out for a drink. So we all met up at a bar that had tables with umbrellas outside in the garden. It was a nice atmosphere.

Then the waitress came and asked for our orders and I had a bit of a struggle in my mind, whether I should order alcohol or juice. A bit pressurised because everyone made their orders already, I quickly looked around to make sure there weren't any Adventists around (guilty conscience) and I said, ok. I'll have half a beer, like a Shandy. I still said to myself (in the dream), that's ok, God won't mind. I won't get drunk.

Then we all started relaxing and while we were talking, I noticed the most amazing sunset I'd ever seen in my life! I was really amazed! Then I said to my friends, hey, guys! Look at that stunning sunset! Then we all looked, and the whole sky was covered with a bright orange-red colour. It was huge!

But suddenly fear crept inside me. I realised it wasn't a sunset, but a massive fire and it was heading our way. And it wasn't moving slowly. It was like a fire storm! Almost like a hot wind bringing this fire over us so suddenly! All of a sudden, my daughter was in the dream with me, and I feared for her life. So I lay over her to protect her from this fire, but I knew it wouldn't help. And soon I felt the fire starting to burn my back. I got such a fright that I woke up!

I was so shocked when I woke up and my heart was pounding. Later I thought about this dream and what on earth it could have meant. Then I realised, the sunset at the Adventist gathering was grey and boring, just like the Christian life seems sometimes, especially if you haven't found the great treasures of heaven yet and you're still struggling in your sin. And the sunset with my worldly friends was really exciting. But the world that seemed exciting destroyed my life! And not only did it destroy my life, but I destroyed my child too.

I thought to myself after that dream, I don't want to destroy my child's life by being a bad example. That was a good enough reason for me to stop the drinking completely. Not even half a beer. My children mean too much to me! The most important thing in the world to me, is to show them the way to eternal life. By setting a bad example for my kids, I will be leading them into sin.

And what about all the moral and physical effects of alcohol? All the accidents that have happened because of drinking? All the abuse and crime! I got myself into so much trouble because of alcohol. It kills your moral thinking and leads you into sin.

I hope this will encourage you to make a decision to serve God with all your heart, all your mind and all your soul. Don't give up your love for God for the love of pleasure. "In the last days...people will become lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God." 2 Timothy 3: 1-4

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

Many believe that it's only wrong if alcohol is abused and that small quantities are acceptable. This was my question to God. My dream specifically only had half a beer in it. I thought carefully about it afterwards. If half a beer is acceptable to me, I'm setting an example to my children that alcohol use is acceptable. When they become teenagers, what's going to stop them from abusing alcohol? They could point fingers at me and say, "but you drink alcohol".

And what if you walk into a pub one day feeling deeply depressed? Are you going to stick to moderate amounts of alcohol use, or is Satan going to tempt you to go over your limits? By drinking small amounts of alcohol to relieve your stress, is enforcing a strong habit in your brain to turn to alchol for relief. When harder troubles come your way, how are you going to handle it? You will most likely fall into your established habit of turning to alchol for relief. And seeing that it's a much more difficult situation to handle than the every day stresses of life, what is going to stop you from abusing alcohol and falling into sin?

Don't let alcohol tie you down to this world. Be free and find peace in God. Break away from making the things of this world a crutch to lean on. Lean on God. His strength endures forever!

Seventh-day Adventist pastors can give you an accurate Bible study on all the different types of "wine" in the Bible.

Ask your husband or wife to give you a massage when you feel stressed. You won't wake up with a foggy brain like when you drink alcohol and Always Say A Prayer (ASAP).

God is coming soon!