CBSSports.com writer Gregg Doyel once wrote an article entitled “Blood spilled at games because of alcohol sales must stop.” (Update: The article is no longer available.)
Doyel referenced the recent violence which has occurred at sporting events and the frequent (invariable even?) connection to alcohol.
I applaud Mr. Doyel for writing the truth on this matter despite its obvious unpopularity. When I read this article I was reminded of an important universal truth: GOD’s commandments are given for our good, always.
Too often it seems people view GOD as being this restricting, no-fun-allowed fuddy-duddy.
Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, it is because of GOD and the way He created us that we even know what “fun” is and all other life emotions too.
The truth is that GOD is all-wise and all-seeing. He knows the end of things before the beginning.
The restrictive commandments GOD has given us are for the purpose of protecting us.
What if what Mr. Doyel suggested came to pass.
Would world-wide violence be substantially reduced if people avoided drunkenness? You bet!
Would there be less broken homes? Problems? Disease? Suffering? Absolutely!
Why then, given all of these benefits, do we resist the commandment of GOD?
We resist because:
- our fleshly desires long to be fulfilled;
- we feel we are somehow smarter than the average bear, so what happened to everyone else won’t happen to me;
- we don’t think about the consequences.
Life is a giant, complex chess match. Each decision must be made thinking about the long-term consequences of that move. Sure, we might be able to knock off the next pawn, but three moves from now we’re in check mate as a result of a bad strategic move.
Recall the words of Moses to the Israelites at Sinai:
12 “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good?
(Deut. 10:12-13 NKJV)
The apostle John reminds us of this important truth:
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:2-3)
Oh that we would all remember this important truth and base our life decisions around loving GOD and keeping His commands. After all, that just makes sense.
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