It was lying beside the road on the corner where my house is located. A single beer can, a piece of trash discarded by a person who had used its contents in wanton pleasure and then thrown it out the car window. I have seen hundreds of discarded cans, and this one was no different, except for what it represented at that moment. The appeal of its contents had caused a person to purchase and consume it in search of a momentary feeling of pleasure. When the can was empty, it had no use and was, therefore, carelessly thrown out for someone else to retrieve. It had lost its appeal. It was worthless.
People have always sought for fleeting pleasures to fill their voids. Alcohol is one of the most appealing of such pleasures. Mankind seeks out these cans of vipers' poison and drinks his fill, and while finding a sense of satisfaction for a moment, realizes that it is only for a moment. His life is like the can he discarded--empty, useless, shallow, and unfulfilled. Lives have been destroyed because of intoxicating drink. Families are torn apart daily by its presence in their homes. Young people live out their lives suffering the consequences of their actions while under alcohol's influence. As Herman Melville wrote in Moby Dick, it is truly a demon.
The wise man wrote in Proverbs 23:29-35, "Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, those who go in search of mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper. Your eyes see strange things, and your heart will utter perverse things. Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying, 'They have struck me, but I was not hurt; they have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?'" God's book tells His People that alcohol has no value or purpose in their lives. The great tragedy associated with its use is the end result--like a discarded can along the roadside.
The appeal of fleeting pleasure has driven many to fall victim to alcohol's deceit. There is no value in following a life of drunkenness, or even flirting with the dangers of drinking as many do when they engage in what they refer to as social drinking. Social drinking makes about as much sense as social fornication. The Lord appeals to His people to be "obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'" (1 Peter 1:14-16) Peter was quoting from Leviticus 11:44 where God appealed to the people to sanctify themselves before Him. One cannot sanctify himself with a beer in hand.
Someone will pick up and throw away the empty beer can. But the affected families will be left to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. Many who find themselves enslaved by alcohol will see their lives thrown out and empty along the side of the road. Christ has the answer, and we find it in His love, His mercy, His forgiveness, and His strength to overcome. He is the way out of sin; He is the only truth one can find about sin; and He is the only one who can bring life to emptiness (John 14:6). His path leads to the Father and to salvation. Don't throw your life away. Be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18)