A Serious Commitment to the Lord

 November 3, 2024

Sunday

I remember the night I stopped drinking alcohol. I had been far away from the Lord, being more sinful than I was before I was saved. I realized that I was missing the relationship I had with the Lord. I got on my knees and made a serious commitment to do whatever the Lord told me to do. Immediately, as if audible (but not audible) the Lord told me to go downstairs and pour out all of my alcohol. I suppose this was a test of my freshly stated commitment to the Lord. I poured it down the sink and have not had alcohol as a beverage since that night. (I have been surprised by alcoholic wine when observing the Lord's Supper in Israel. I have had Nyquil when I have been sick.)

I supposed that my commitment must be everyone's commitment. I preached against drinking. I chastised those who did. I have learned that the Bible does not prohibit drinking. However, that doesn't change my commitment. My commitment stands. It represents setting myself aside for the Lord's use. It is holy though I am not always acting holy. Holiness is being set aside for the Lord. It isn't about being perfect. The point is that abstaining from alcohol is not everyone's commitment.

Yet, there are some who do need to make that commitment. Their relationship with alcohol is getting in the way of their relationship with the Lord. Their testimony has been damaged by their drinking. Their families have been damaged, too. They need to make that commitment because it would be best for them and those around them. 

These people may not be what some call alcoholics. Some think that an alcoholic can't stay away from alcohol. Though that may be true in some cases, I have seen many more people go without alcohol for periods of time. They may still be alcoholics but still able to abstain for short periods. Alcohol lingers in their thoughts, though. They plan for the moment they will be able to drink again.

On the other hand, there are people who are able to drink in moderation nearly all of the time. They may have "one too many" but those occasions are somewhat rare. Alcohol isn't affecting their lives. It is something they do like overeat at Thanksgiving. They normally don't overeat either. These people can be committed Christians without abstaining from alcohol.

I went to the movies with a bunch of men to watch "The Forge." In that movie, the main protagonist is told that coming to Christ means he will need to sacrifice something. The young man gave up video games. It was controlling him. He needed to give it up. But the truth is that people will go to heaven just as easily without giving up anything. They are changed by the Lord but not so committed that they will do without anything. They will never be true disciples of the Lord but they will go to heaven. The only reason to give up something is because the Lord has led you to give it up. It is getting in the way of your relationship with Him.

We all, probably, have something that was getting in the way of our relationship with the Lord when we made a serious commitment to Him. We just need to listen to the Lord with our eyes open. He will lead us to give up that which gets in the way. He will lead us to make a serious commitment if we choose to do so.

Do you want to make a serious commitment to the Lord? Is there anything that you know right now that is getting in the way of your relationship with Him?

1 Corinthians 10:23 (NASB 2020) ²³ All things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things build people up.