The Scripture says a lot about alcohol in excess and some about alcohol without regard to whether or not it is in excess. But there is a much deeper issue that goes far beyond alcohol to every aspect of life.

Whatsoever is not of faith is sin. (Romans 14:23)

What is sin?

There are three main words from which sin is translated. One of them means wandering from the path. Another means stepping across. Another means slipping across. So you can either step out of the path of you can slip out of the path.

What is the path? Jesus said that He is the Way, the Path. He also said that there is a broad way that leads to death, but there is a narrow and constricted way that leads to life. The world, life, in this context is literally the genuine and absolute fullness of life of the Kingdom Age, sometimes known as eternal life. Here, it becomes even more interesting and simple. Jesus is not only the Way or path to Life, but He is the Life. He is both the Path and the Destination. And He is also the Light. Now, think of this Scripture, "The Path of the just is as a shining Light that shines more and more until the totally complete Day." Here is another Scripture: "As we all with unveiled faces beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord." We are on an upward Path with Jesus if we are following Him.

What is faith?

"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the rhema of God." (Romans 10:17) I used the original language word, rhema, for a purpose. King James Bible translated this as word, and some people assumed that word means Bible. However, it means utterance. Skeptics and ungodly people are reading the Bible all the time, but their attitude caused them to fail to acknowledge the rhema of God. They read the Bible and never hear His Voice. 2 Corinthians 3 is all about this.

So faith comes when we listen to God. If we are following Jesus, then He is leading us. Otherwise, how could we follow Him. He says, "My sheep hear My Voice." He says, "Whoever is on the side of truth listens to Me." These are two of many passages of Scripture that say that Jesus speaks to us. When we acknowledge Him, His faith comes to us. It is a supernatural faith that has power. We cannot work it up ourselves. It has nothing to do with the worthless, powerless, rationalized faith that is so prevalent. It is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. It can move mountains, but only if God says the mountain should move.

So God leads. Does He lead you to drink alcohol? Has the Holy Spirit impressed you at this moment to drink alcohol? At any moment, you do know the answer to that question. You see, that narrow and constricted way is very narrow. Whatever is not of faith is sin. In every moment, the Holy Spirit is leading you. He has a leading in the details of your life. Are you acknowledging Him? Are you obeying what He is exactly leading you in?

We are on an upward path. We are called to be priests and kings of Him. "It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Or for rulers to desire strong drink, For they will drink and forget what is decreed, And pervert the rights of all the afflicted. Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to him whose life is bitter." (Proverbs 31:4-6)