Luke 5:39 - Don't Become Vinegar

I know precious little about organic chemistry or winemaking. So I'll start by asking for chemists and winemakers to overlook any incorrect assumptions I make.

Grape juice can--with age and other factors--become either vinegar or wine. Once fermented, the wine can turn to vinegar because of acetobacter, a natural bacteria found in the air and even on the grapes. Wine easily turns into vinegar without some natural or added preservatives.

Depending on the type of grape and processing, some wines become even better with age. Even Jesus recognized that,

“...no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’ ” (Luke 5:39, English Standard Version, alt.)

Jesus knew how to bake bread and broil fish. (John 21:9) He also turned water into wine for a wedding reception. We aren't told if it was white, red or rosé, how it had been miraculously aged, or how it was created in the first place. But it was good wine that exceeded expectations. (John 2:10)

People age. Some people get more attractive and appealing with age. Some just coast in life: the end result is passable, but short of their full potential. Still others allow the world around them or events in their life to sour them. (Hebrews 12:15) Vinegar might make a good glass cleaner, but I've never picked up a bottle to drink it!

Father in heaven, no matter what age we are, give us the good sense and humility to not allow anything to sour us. We want to increasingly give refreshment and grace to others around us (1 Corinthians 16:18), even as we've received the grace of Christ (Luke 22:20). Turn us into a well-aged wine. Not vinegar! Amen.

Sources:
https://blog.homebrewing.org/why-does-wine-turn-into-vinegar/
https://cellaraiders.com/blogs/news/why-wine-tastes-better-with-age
https://moonshiners.club/why-wine-turns-into-vinegar/
https://www.wired.com/2014/10/whats-wines-tastes-better-age/