How to be Free from Sin — Page 21
21 their number exceeds the number of all the shops in our towns and villages. Experience shows that drinking is the root of all evil, for, in a matter of minutes, it excites a per- son to a state where he is even ready to commit murder, not to mention the other sins that go with it. I emphati- cally declare that drinking and fear of God can never go together, and he cannot be called wise who does not un- derstand the evil consequences of consuming alcohol. Another dangerous thing about alcoholism is that not eve- ryone can give it up after it has become a habit. If the blood of Christ cannot cleanse man of his sins, which it has obviously failed to do, is there any other way to achieve salvation? A life of sin is, after all, worse than death. In answer to this I say, on the basis of my own per- sonal experience, that from the birth of man to these final days of the world there has been only one way of avoiding sin and disobedience. When man attains true recognition of God, through categorical arguments and luminous signs, and is virtually able to behold Him, he comes to realize that Divine wrath is a consuming fire; and when God manifests His beauty to him, he realizes that in Him lies perfect bliss. All the veils between him and Divine majesty and beauty are thus lifted, and this alone can check egoistical passions and bring about true reformation. My answer may invite the response: "Do we not believe in God? Do we not fear Him? Do we not love Him? Do not all people, with the exception of a few, believe in Him? And do they not still commit every kind of sin, and are they not involved in every type of evil and impiety?" I