The scriptures speak harshly of drunkenness, which could include using drugs, but it’s not about God’s judgment against you. You are not your addiction. You are not your mistakes. You are not your regrets.
Sometimes, we get in over our heads and can’t swim to the surface without help. If you are struggling against addiction, know that there is hope and freedom when you turn everything over to God and Jesus Christ, who descended below all things.
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But what is being sober-minded? Didn’t Jesus drink wine? How can he heal you, and why would he want to? What are the blessings of being sober?
What Does God Mean When He Says to Be Sober?
Today, we may simplify the term sober to mean without chemical influence, but true sobriety is so much more:
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:6-11 KJV)
Sobriety is being aware and controlling your thoughts, feelings, and actions. It’s understanding the dangers surrounding you, accepting them as part of your mortal experience, and fighting against anything that would steal from you.
Drugs and alcohol are thieves. They steal your time, relationships, self-worth, dignity, careers, health, freedom, memories, and agency. They are sly at first, luring you away from safety by numbing pain, giving you energy, making you more sociable, or helping you feel good. Later, they hold you in chains that feel impossible to break.
When God says to be sober, he’s trying to protect you, your families, and your loved ones from the devastation of addiction.
Did Jesus Drink Wine?
Yes, he did. Of course, wine’s alcohol content was lower than that of brands sold today due to a distilling process invented after Christ’s day. They also often boiled wine and added water to help preserve it, which eliminated the alcohol. Is this the kind of wine he made when he was at the wedding feast? We can’t know for sure.
Can people have a glass of wine and keep the spirit? Maybe, if they always keep alcohol consumption controlled. The problem is that many people get addicted to alcohol without realizing what is happening. Drunkenness is losing self-control through alcohol (or drugs), at which point people make poor choices. Alcohol and drugs are major components in domestic abuse, child abuse, violence, recklessness, infidelity, promiscuity, illegitimate pregnancies, children born to single-parent households, and crime of all sorts.
If you’re reading this, chances are you or a loved one have already passed beyond temperate alcohol consumption, and moderation is no longer a viable option for you. Once addicted, you are always addicted, just with varying levels of sobriety. True freedom only comes with complete abstinence for you or your addicted friend or family member. Having that first drink started you on a path that led to addiction, so the best advice for anyone who is not yet dealing with addiction is to simply avoid it.
How Does God’s Healing Work?
How can Jesus heal you, and why would he want to? This question has stumped people for centuries. Why would God descend from Heaven and allow himself to be tortured and killed by mortals? The only logical reason is the one he gave to his disciples.
For God [The Father] so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son [Jesus], that whosoever believeth in him [Jesus] should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)
The only reason God would choose to sacrifice his Son, or why Jesus would agree to the plan, is because they loved mortal man enough to create a way for mankind to overcome the weakness of the flesh and resulting sin.
Jesus descended below all things, meaning he suffered more than anyone in our history, taking upon himself his people’s sins, wounds, and illnesses. He suffered all so he would understand. There is no depth to which you can sink that he hasn’t been lower than. There is no pain you can feel that can touch what he experienced. And, having pure understanding, he protects everyone who will turn to him and accept his sacrifice, so mankind need not face judgment for evil deeds done on Earth. He allowed mankind to work on overcoming weaknesses so that they would be perfected through him someday.
What Are the Blessings of Sobriety?
- First, you don’t have to be sober to claim the blessings of God’s help. Even if you just have a desire to be sober, God extends his mercy to you to help you become sober.
- You avoid the pitfalls and dangers of drunkenness, including broken families, destroyed careers, etc.
- You have the Savior to guide you, comfort you, and help you find peace in a broken world. He will help you overcome your challenges, regain your health, and become more than you ever dreamed possible.
- Christ can claim you as his own and shepherd you to eternal life.
Last Thoughts
If you’re ready for life to get better, it’s time to find a Christian-based rehabilitation center to help you medically detox (which is much safer than going cold turkey) and guide you toward sobriety. Christian treatment centers help you gain or rekindle your relationship with God so you can access his power and get healthy again. Ask about our drug rehab centers in Utah and Idaho. The sooner you get treatment, the sooner you get your life back on track.