Drinking The Kool-Aid

This phrase is so often used but as often misunderstood.  It's origin supposedly came from the mass suicide that
happened in Jonestown with the Jim Jones cult when they were ordered to drink a juice laced with cyanide. More than 900 people died from it and a movie is being made about his life titled "Jim Jones'" starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

In so many words it is about having blind faith in something, in this case and most others, having a blind faith in a human belief. Such as technology can solve all our problems, or on a political scale, that the next great candidate can right all the wrongs. Jim Jones turned his back on Christianity and declared himself God, and his followers believed he was. Thus, they drank the Kool-Aid and perished from their blind misguided faith.

In todays society Drinking The Kool-Aid can be equated to believing that drugs can solve our problems and that the dope man will deliver the answer. Unfortunately, like Jonestown, it is becoming like mass suicide with the introduction of fentanyl laced product. 

In Jesus ministry, when he came to a well in Samaria (Jacob's well), he spoke to a woman who thought faith in more husbands and relationships could solve her problems. That was her Kool-Aid. Most of us have read this story and understand he was not supposed to be speaking to her for several reasons that made sense to those in that era, but it makes total sense to us now. As always, he had a higher purpose.

When confronted with her doubts and insecurities he spoke these words to her: If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water. John 4

Her response was a blind faith in her ancestors and in that the well and in those men and in her knowledge of what happened in that well in the past. But Jesus re-directed her faith. He added: Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.

Having a blind faith in humanity and the things this world can offer can get us killed or constantly leave us empty and looking for more. Having that same faith in the Lord can bring us a satisfied life now, and an after life of joy in eternity forever.

Forever and ever Amen!