It's not only drunk people that are "under the influence", we all are

Image source: brh.org.uk

"Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?" (Romans 6:16).

When we see and read news headlines like "man arrested for driving under the influence" or "woman jailed for drunk driving", or heartbreaking ones likes "drunk driver kills two in auto crash", and "female driver caught with alcohol with baby in the backseat"; we are pained for the victims and call for the heads of the defaulters, which is understandable.

However, these defaulters are not the only guilty ones, we all are equally guilty of the "same" offence - you are under the influence, and so am I. We are not much different. If we think well and deep enough, we would realise that the defaulters are not the only ones who are "under the influence", or put better, we would realise that we all, just like them, are "under the influence".

With everyone of us, it is not a question of whether we are "under the influence" or not; rather we should ask ourselves - what influence am I under? Or whose influence am I under? Think about it.

Indeed, every single one of us lives and operates under the influence of one thing or person. Granted, you may not be under the influence of alcohol like the defaulters above, but surely, you are under some influence of your own.

To be under the influence of something or someone means to have your thoughts, actions and habits inspired and controlled by that thing or person. For instance, when someone is under the influence of alcohol, his/her thoughts and actions at that point is (to a very large extent) determined (that is, inspired and controlled) by alcohol.

Such individual relinquishes control over his/her actions to the substance, alcohol becomes a sort of a driver, while the person becomes a mere passenger, probably stuck in the booth - depending on how much control he/she has relinquished to alcohol.

The more alcohol content you have on your inside, the more control you give up to it, and the less you can order the things you think and do at that point.

That explains why a woman, after going through the indescribable pain of carrying and birthing a child after about 9 months, would drive drunk with the same baby in the back seat! That is why, also, a father would while drunk drive with his kids in the back-seat! She has lost control; he has lost the power to control his thoughts and actions; alcohol at that point has become her/his lord.

This is why Paul, in our anchor text, asked"Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?" (Romans 6:16).

The person who is under the influence of alcohol has relinquished control to it, and thus becomes its slave. Alcohol is that person's lord for the time he remains under its influence.

The same applies to all of us - believers and non believers, young and old, married and unmarried, rich and poor, alike. We all are under the influence.

While some are under the influence of the devil and his cohorts which manifests in alcoholism, hard drugs abuse, sexual addiction, perpetual lying, stealing, etc.; some others are under the influence of God via His Holy Spirit, which manifests in love, peace, joy, self control, gentleness, truthfulness, purity, etc. (see Galatians 5:19-23).

Beyond reasonable doubt, we are all under the influence.

How then do we determine what influence we are under?
Oh, that's quite simple! Jesus answered this a long time ago - He gave us the key to determining what influence we are under and whose slaves we are.

In His words, "Therefore by their fruits you will know them". (Matthew 7:20).

Here's more of what He said, "For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."Luke 6:43-45.

Not only do we speak out of the abundance of our heart - we also think, act, do things out of the abundance of our heart. Your works - the things you do consistently and habitually, your actions and reactions, your choices and decisions - reveal what and whose influence you are under.

So, what influence are you under? Whose slave have you become? "Of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?"

Bear in mind that "God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life." Galatians 6:7-8.