About this time, you are asking the question:"OK, tell me something I don't know?". Everyone knows that alcohol kills, yet, millions upon millions get drunk each year. Why? Is it just for relaxation or release or addiction? Perhaps the buzz that comes along after awhile, or maybe when you can touch your nose and can't feel it? Is it the way people laugh at the silly things you do or the way you walk or the slur in your speech? OH, yes, and maybe its the way you wake up the next day and can't for the life of you remember what you did last night. There is a passage in the book of Leviticus that might provide a little insight into the question of "why shouldn't I take a drink?"....
Leviticus 10:1-11 WEB (R)
(1) Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and offered strange fire before Yahweh, which he had not commanded them.
(2) And fire came forth from before Yahweh, and devoured them, and they died before Yahweh.
(3) Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what Yahweh spoke of, saying, 'I will show myself holy to those who come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified.' " Aaron held his peace.
(4) Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, "Draw near, carry your brothers from before the sanctuary out of the camp."
(5) So they drew near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as Moses had said.
(6) Moses said to Aaron, and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons, "Don't let the hair of your heads go loose, neither tear your clothes; that you don't die, and that he not be angry with all the congregation: but let your brothers, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which Yahweh has kindled.
(7) You shall not go out from the door of the Tent of Meeting, lest you die; for the anointing oil of Yahweh is on you." They did according to the word of Moses.
(8) Yahweh spoke to Aaron, saying,
(9) "Drink no wine nor strong drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the Tent of Meeting, that you don't die: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations:
(10) and that you are to make a distinction between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean;(11) and that you are to teach the children of Israel all the statutes which Yahweh has spoken to them by Moses."
I grew up watching people get drunk. My best friend's bachelor party became a brawl because of liquor. I have counseled more people than I would like to remember over the excesses of imbibing. After 20 or 30 battered wives related their horrible lives, hearing another story became like hearing a broken record. Alcohol kills! What starts out as "just fun" often ends in tragedy. A drunk driver killed my brother-in-law Billy. Yet, the allure of alcohol destroys millions. Why? Because Satan has tricked humans into thinking their lives would be better with it, be more fun, have more excitement. Life has its up's and down's but alcohol is a depressant; it ultimately won't help... it kills! Have problems in your life; turn to God, HE will help. After all, that's why Jesus came to Earth wasn't it? One last thing... I find it interesting that there is a commandment for the priests not to drink wine or strong drink before going into the sanctuary. Why? Perhaps Nadab and Abihu were drunk when they offered strange fire? Doesn't really say, but it does make sense to me! The best way to be careful with alcohol is not to touch it in the first place. Why? Reread this post until the answer comes to you.
