Be Sober

Be Sober

Be sober. Don't be an idiot! Essentially, that is what Paul says in Romans 12:3. “You know the doctrine. You know about God's salvation. You know what He has done and is doing for you. That, however, does not give you the right to be an idiot!"

Just yesterday I was a bit of an idiot. How one can be a, “bit of an idiot” is anyone’s guess. However, I was.

At choir practice I noticed Herbert outside the church door. It was dark but I noticed that he was talking with an older gentleman. I figured that he was probably sharing his faith with the man so I let the conversation go for a while. Not wanting to butt into the Holy Spirit’s work.

After a few minutes I thought, “I need to go and introduce myself.” So, I did.

I met a man whose breath would have pickled your olfactory nerve! I mean this guy was: stoned, tipsys, bashed, crocked, to name a few. And Brother did he have a spiritual salad between his ears! It was amazing what this guy knew about God!

I have talked and listened to the drunk before. Generally it is better to mark another encounter with them. When they are in their right mind. So, I started our curbside meeting with a question, “Ademir, if you died tonight do you know that you would go to heaven?” Talk about a smooth entrance into conversation with a drunk and complete stranger.

His reaction was similar to that of the soldiers in the garden when they came to arrest Jesus. Remember? They were knocked over by Jesus’ reply. Ademir must have had a demon, because the moment after my question he sprinted about thirty feet down the road!

But he came back. He came back with a theology lesson that would have made Joseph Smith, Helen White and Jim Jones proud! It was a wonder of confusion.

At THAT moment, my flesh kicked in and I wanted to demonstrate MY humble understanding of the Scriptures. I want to let this hopeless loser have a spiritual shotgun full of buckshot right in the old pickled breath kisser.

It was THEN that I was doing what Paul says that we should NOT do. I was thinking pretty highly of myself. I KNEW the TRUTH and Ademir didn't! That was that! As far as I was concerned, the conversation was over.

I often kid about my poverty of mental aptitude, my big red nose or my lack of hair. I could go on and on. I kid. But deep down I think that I am a pretty smart cookie. And not bad looking too! Thus the old phrase, “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder”, comes into play!

What is the solution for Thinking Highly about self? “Think(ing) soberly!” How appropriate to my evening conversation with Ademir. He was drunk. He was not in his right mind. Liquor was controlling his thought pattern. Though, I think that even sober, he probably has a salad theology.

Don't think highly think humbly. Believe that you are saved by grace. But NOT because you were WORTH all that was paid. You weren't. Nor was I. “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.” But why did He pay it? Because He was obeying the Father’s will. When we do the same, it will keep us humble. It will help us to think soberly!