The New Wine Fails…

The New Wine Fails…

If you have ever attended Mardi Gras in New Orleans you know it is a celebration unlike anything, anywhere else in the U.S. For the most part the spiritual aspect of what is happening has long been washed away in alcohol, debauchery on a scale that is hard to imagine combined with limited lawlessness. It is a spectacle of epic proportions.

Having become quiet intimate with Mardi Gras through the attendance of approximately 10+, it is a celebration that is well worn. The final celebration was attended sober. The people who had traveled along side were anything but sober. There were at least six people total in our group and one that was sober. To put this thing into some kind of perspective it was not uncommon to awaken to find other members in the group enjoying Sambuca for breakfast. If you’re not familiar with Sambuca is a clear liquor that is a “representative” of Absinthe, classified as an hallucinogenic. Anyway, I digress.

Being sober for approximately 18 months provided a sense of stability, willingness and accomplishment. Making it through Mardi Gras, and several other major events, completely sober was beginning to feel right. It felt as if success was at hand – the alcoholism race was won!! At the time, there was a foolish thought of “finishing” or “winning”. Not only did the truth surface and come rushing home like a freight train, it was very clear the alcoholic monster had grown substantially larger and stronger.

All during the time of sobriety the answers seemed to be reading books on spirituality, reading the four Gospels in the Bible and doing things other indigenous people had done for thousands of years that brought them closer to god. Well, turns out, it does bring them all closer to god, unfortunately, it was a god spelled with a lower case “g”. It is only the New Wine of Jesus Christ that could possibly save this broken soul and soften a heart to allow love to flourish.

Isiah 24 NKJV

5 The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants,
Because they have transgressed the laws,
Changed the ordinance,
Broken the everlasting covenant.
6 Therefore the curse has devoured the earth,
And those who dwell in it are desolate.
Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned,
And few men are left.
7 The new wine fails, the vine languishes,
All the merry-hearted sigh.
8 The mirth of the tambourine ceases,
The noise of the jubilant ends,
The joy of the harp ceases.
9 They shall not drink wine with a song;
Strong drink is bitter to those who drink it.
10 The city of confusion is broken down;
Every house is shut up, so that none may go in.
11 There is a cry for wine in the streets,
All joy is darkened,
The mirth of the land is gone.