“If I fought wild animals in Ephesus with only human hope, what good did that do me? If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:32‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

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“On that day the Lord God of Hosts called for weeping, for wailing, for shaven heads, and for the wearing of sackcloth. But look: joy and gladness, butchering of cattle, slaughtering of sheep, eating of meat, and drinking of wine — “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die! ” The Lord of Hosts has directly revealed to me: “This sin of yours will never be wiped out.” The Lord God of Hosts has spoken.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭22:12-14‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
https://www.bible.com/72/isa.22.12-14.hcsb

This “eating and drinking for tomorrow we die” attitude is in contrast to how He wanted the people of Israel to act. For God had wanted them to fast and morn. We too are not to disobey God but if He calls for a time of fasting and prayer we obey and not become rebellious and fest and party instead. 

The wild animals Paul faced in Ephesus may have been the riot that started with Demetrius, a silversmith, who made considerable money making silver shrines to Artemis the Goddess of the city (Acts 19:240). For He stirred up the people because he was losing business because of Paul’s radical message that the dead Jesus was raised to life.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
‭‭I Peter‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/114/1pe.5.8.nkjv

“And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit:”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:18‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
https://www.bible.com/72/eph.5.18.hcsb

Alcohol is a controlling force and makes us out of control. The Holy Spirit is also a controlling force that keeps God in control of our lives. If we live the “eating and drinking for tomorrow we die” mentality we forget the things of God and live only of the next round of eating and drinking. But if we live the “Be sober, be vigilant” mentality we will keep our focus on God and what He is doing through the Spirit in the world around and in us. For we have the hope that is not a human hope, but in God alone.


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