The Emptiness of Alcohol
In the past few weeks our county has suffered the loss of two lives due to “speed and alcohol” in a vehicle crash. Any time there is a loss of life, it is sad. In these two separate situations, the ages of the victims were 23 and 48 years old. They should have had many years ahead of them, yet their lives were cut short due to alcohol.
Our society promotes alcohol. Here in Wisconsin, it is almost a badge of honor when it comes to consuming alcohol. The advertisements for drinking show happiness and satisfaction, but is this true? Are we being deceived into believing alcohol is something we should celebrate?
According to the CDC, there are about 178,000 deaths related to excessive drinking per year. It is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Yet, our society turns a blind eye to this dilemma. Our elected officials rarely mention stricter laws to combat this epidemic. It is common to hear of someone having multiple DUI’s and still being able to operate a motor vehicle.
When we look at alcohol and what it produces, what do we find? Broken marriages, health problems, violence, death, unfaithfulness, and many other negative factors. Knowing the results of alcohol, why does a society continue to promote it as if it is something which should be experienced?
In life, there is an emptiness. Everyone has this emptiness and tries to fill this void in their life with something. Many fill it with the pursuit of money, sports, hobbies, gossip, gambling, drugs and alcohol. However, this is a façade as it doesn’t relieve the emptiness, only adds to the misery.
Where did this emptiness of life begin? We can find it all the way back in the garden of Eden. After Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, we read they hid themselves from God when they heard His voice. Why did they hide from him? Adam stated he was afraid when he had heard the voice of God. Prior to disobeying God’s command, we don’t read about fear and anxiety. It was after they disobeyed God’s command in which we find fear and anxiety. What happened is sin separated mankind from a Holy God. After God handed out curses to Adam, Eve and the serpent, He kicked them out of the garden of Eden.
As with any child, when they are separated from their parent, there is an emptiness. It brings fear, anxiety and a general uneasiness. We have been separated from our heavenly Father due to sin. This has brought into the world, fear, anxiety and emptiness. Humanity has tried to appease these feelings with the things of this world, such as alcohol. Yet, it does not fill this void nor subside the feeling. It is simply a mask.
The good news is, God did not want to be separate from His children. He had a plan to restore the relationship He had with His children in the garden and fill the emptiness of life. The prophet Joel prophesied in Joel 2:28 there would be a day God would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. We find this prophecy being fulfilled in Acts chapter 2 when 120 people were filled with God’s Spirit in the upper room. We find God pouring out His Spirit throughout the book of Acts (Acts 8, 10, 19) and this continues to be the case today. Yet, many don’t look to God to fill the emptiness of their life. Rather, they fill it with things of this world which don’t satisfy and only lead to heartache.
This week, in our county, two families mourn the death of their loved ones. It is a loss which was so easily preventable. Unfortunately, this will not be the last. Yet, you can ensure you don’t fall victim to being another statistic. You can fill the emptiness of life with the only thing which truly satisfies – the Spirit of God.
Acts 2:38-39
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
