A Tale of Blunders and Wasted Treasure
John was an ambitious young man. In 1850 he earned his medical degree and began life in southern Georgia as a doctor and surgeon. John’s primary passion was in the field of chemistry. This led him to give up the physician’s life and open a pharmacy in Columbus, Georgia. A few years later, the Civil War erupted, and John joined the Confederate Army. While he rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel, his life was changed when he suffered a saber wound to the chest during the battle of Columbus.
In those days, morphine was commonly used to treat painful injuries. Soon, John was addicted to morphine. As a doctor, he knew the dangers of morphine addiction, so he began a search for something that would help with pain but be less dangerous and addictive. John used his knowledge of chemicals and pharmacology to develop a medicine/helpful tonic. Understand that in that era and time, tonics and elixirs were a dime-a-dozen. There was very little oversight regarding what was concocted and sold to the general public.
Along with working on a “self-help” medicine, John had several failed attempts to market medications and tonics for other ailments. Who was interested in buying “John’s Triplex Liver Pills”? No one. John found out that his medical degree could be of help, so he marketed
“Dr. Pemberton’s Globe of Flower Cough Syrup” and “Dr. Pemberton’s Extract of Styllinger Blood Medicine.” (Don't those sound like something you would want to take?) In his journey to find an adequate pain control, John began experimenting with alcohol and cocaine related medications. He began marketing “coca-wine” (a cocaine and wine tonic). This venture made John some money until 1886 when the temperance movement shut down alcohol-based beverages in the Atlanta area where John had relocated his business.
We have all heard the old saying, “necessity is the mother of invention.” The banning of alcohol prompted John to develop an alcohol-free beverage. Along with removing the alcohol, he replaced the cocaine with caffeine. A fortunate accident found John adding carbonated water to his medicated syrup. I’m sure by now you have probably guessed that our John Pemberton story is the history of how Coca-Cola was invented. What you might not know is that John’s life had gotten more complicated. He was desperate for money. His health deteriorated due to a number of factors (his war wound and difficulties due to his morphine addiction). Sick and financially desperate, John began selling the rights to his new beverage to various business partners. He had a hunch that his beverage would someday be a popular drink nationwide. Because of this, John negotiated to save a share of the ownership rights for his son. John wanted to leave a legacy. John’s son, however, wanted money immediately. So in 1888, the remaining portion of the patented formula for Coca-Cola was sold for $300. Today that amount of money would be worth about $10,000.
I share this story not simply to give details of the invention of Coca-Cola, but to observe the foolishness of John’s son. What an example of lost opportunity and prosperity. The rash and reckless decision-making by John’s son still happens with people today. How many people are desperately seeking meaning and help in life? All around us people are making terrible decisions in their breakneck haste to get more stuff. They are basing their life on faulty and irresponsible notions. Just as people in John Pemberton’s day were searching for that magic elixir that would cure their ills, people today are searching as well. The answer is Jesus. God knows what we need to make life work. God has provided the remedy for our toxic and deadly actions. Jesus has given his life to save us. Jesus’ blood has bought forgiveness for all who will turn to him. Are you looking for a temporary fix to an eternal problem? Wake up, wise up, and turn to God. Keep looking up!