CHANGING THE LABELS!

CHANGING THE LABELS!

Isa 5:20-23

20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:

23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

           The story is told, in one variation or another, of someone who crept into a department store and switched all the prices on the goods. In the morning, when the store opened, customers were shocked to see small items with huge prices and large ticket items priced at a tremendous bargain! The same thing is happening to our culture.

           Our small town is soon to decide whether to allow the sale of alcohol within a certain precinct. The claim is that it will improve our city by increasing tax revenue. Crumbling facades will magically heal themselves and gleam with new brilliance as soon as the alcohol flows. Empty stores will bustle with new business and customers will clamor for goods and services as soon as the alcohol flows. Test scores will rise to new and amazing heights in our schools as soon as the liquor flows freely. Police officers will all drive new cars and the fire department will buy new trucks and equipment as soon as the liquor flows freely. Homes will be happier and churches will overflow with joyful worship as soon as alcohol is available.

           Woe to those who make moral decisions “for reward!” Alcohol is a factor in 40% of violent crimes. A sizable number of empirical studies have found support for the relationship between alcohol and marital problems. Alcohol related traffic accidents kill someone every 22 minutes in the United States and at any minute one out of every 50 drivers is drunk. This figure elevates to 1 driver in 10 on the weekends. Of all murders, alcohol was involved in at least 34% of cases. More than half of all rapists had been drinking. Mothers convicted of child abuse are three times more likely to be alcoholics – fathers ten times more likely.

Isa 1:16-18

16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Dear Lord, shine your light upon us that we may see the labels as they really are. Give us wisdom to choose good and not evil. AMEN