Are you like a Good Wine? ( or
have you turned to Vinegar?)
By Peter Crause
John
It doesn’t
take a connoisseur to detect the difference between wine and vinegar. Although
they have the same origin, their taste to the palate is vastly different. The
one is tasty, lusty and desirable; whilst the other is tart, setting ones teeth
“on edge” and undrinkable. The one is “good”, the other is “bad”. There are
degrees of “badness” – some wines may be tending
towards becoming sour vinegar, while others are too far gone and have attained
the full sour taste characteristic of vinegar. Vinegar was once wine – but
something called “fermentation” has been carried too far by unsuitable
conditions to produce it. What were once
acceptable conditions at the beginning of the fermentation process will become
unacceptable at a later stage; causing “stagnation” and the ultimate souring of
what was once saleable and drinkable “good wine”.
From
our scripture reference it would seem that in Christ’s days the custom at a
wedding was to serve the best wine first; and when the guests were suitably
“intoxicated” the poor quality, partial vinegar and cheaper wines. The guests
wouldn’t mind poor wine at this stage. Jesus however illustrated the heart of
God – “the best is yet to come!”
There
are two areas I would like to meditate on in regard to the above:
-
our walk with the Lord gets better and better
-
our individual and personal lives should
get better and better
Our walk with the Lord
There
was an old song we sang in churches in
Sweeter as the days go bye
Sweeter as the days go bye
Richer, fuller, deeper,
Jesus’ love is sweeter
Sweeter as the days go bye
Another:
The longer I serve Him the sweeter He
grows
The more that I love Him more love He
bestows
Each day is like heaven, my heart
overflows
The longer I serve Him the sweeter He
grows
Dear
child of God; has this been your experience? Is He sweeter to you now than when
you first believed? Have you grown in your understanding of our Lord Jesus?
Have you made Him the centre and circumference of you life? He demands our all so that we can have and
enjoy His all!
In
Jesus the “wine” gets better and
better. When last were you “intoxicated” with His love? When last did “the
things of the earth grow strangely dim in the light of His Glory and Grace”?
Can you honestly say He means more to you today than yesterday? “Oh taste and
see that the Lord is good!” Dear ones, let’s “get hooked” on Jesus! Have some “good wine” today.
Our personal lives
As we
“drink” of the Lord’s Spirit and presence and become “intoxicated” with Him,
there seems to be a change in our natures. We become like the “good wine”,
sought out by all. No one wants to fellowship with a sour, grouchy
“vinegar-like” person.
Take
a critical look at yourself today! Have you “soured” along the way? Are you critical of others instead of
yourself? Do you drive people away by your attitudes and negativity? Be sure
that this will make others “sour” as
well. Is that what you really want? Do you really want to see the church as one
big vinegar jar?
Unlike
natural wine, we can revert back to “good
wine” – Jesus turned water into “good
wine”; I’m convinced He can turn nasty, sour old vinegar into “good wine” as well.
Sit
stagnant and unmoved in your spiritual life and you will begin to become sour
and acidic. I sincerely hope and pray none of you dear readers are like vinegar
today? If you have “soured” just a
tad, start the reversal process and begin feeding on the Word of God and spend
time with Him – you’ll once again take on His characteristics and become “good wine” again.
I’m hungry Lord
I’m hungry Lord
My soul cries out
to Thee
The Living Bread
The Wine of
life
The One who
quickens me