| DON'T SMOKE |
| March 18, 1999 |
| Published in Deer River, Minnesota |
| By Itasca Review |
| by Charlie Grier |
| MINNESOTA WINS A CASE OVER THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY |
| On May 8th (1998), the State of Minnesota and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota settled a landmark lawsuit against the tobacco industry for $6.6 billion. The State and BCBSM alleged that big Tobacco conspired to conceal the truth from the public about the serious health hazards and disease-causing prospects of smoking. |
| On August 31, 1998, Chief District Court Judge Lawrence Cohen, Ramsey County, ordered $202 million of the State's settlement be provided for the establishment of a new foundation for smoking cessation programs and tobacco control research... |
| Hubert Humphrey 111 said, "These funds will be used over 25 years to insure a generation of commitment to beating the pediatric epidemic of tobacco use THAT KILLS MORE AMERICANS THAN ANY OTHER PREVENTABLE CAUSE." |
| -Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association (Fall.1998, condensed). |
| Now that Minnesota has won her case with the tobacco interests, our state is going to do all in her power to discourage the use of tobacco and to enable those who are already in bondage to smoking, to break the habit. If Mr. Humphrey's appraisal is true, that "tobacco kills more Americans than any other preventable cause," then, though they may not be aware of it, those who smoke are slowly committing suicide. The question then comes |
| IS IT SINFUL TO USE TOBACCO? |
| As a child we used to say: |
| Tobacco is a filthy weed, |
| And from the devil it does proceed. |
| It stinks the breath, and burns the clothes, |
| And makes a chimney out of your nose. |
| Perhaps we should let the cigarette speak for itself: |
| I am only a small cigarette. |
| I am not much of a mathematician, |
| But I can ADD to a person's nervous trouble. |
| I can SUBTRACT from his physical energy. |
| MULTIPLY his aches and pains, |
| Take INTEREST from his work, |
| And DISCOUNT chances for success. |
| -author unknown |
| The word "tobacco" is not found anywhere in the Bible, so we dare not say tobacco is sin. There are only two kinds of sin mentioned in the Bible. |
| To refuse to do what you know God wants you to do. |
| To insist on doing what God tells you not to do. |
| In other words, sin is DISOBEDIENCE to the revealed will of God. Disobedience is the only thing that will keep people out of Heaven. Infants go to Heaven because they haven't disobeyed. Adam's sin was not that he chose the wrong diet, it was deliberate DISOBEDIENCE to the revealed will of God. |
| BUT SUPPOSE I CAN'T QUIT? |
| God never asks anyone to do the impossible. If He tells us to do something, He will give grace and power to do it. Smoking is no different from any other bad habit because, there is nothing too hard for God! God can help us overcome any habit if we really want to give it up. I have known people who thought they couldn't quit swearing. They have used bad language all their lives, until it is as natural to swear as it is to breathe. In the final analysis these people don't really want to quit swearing. They consider it POWERFUL LANGUAGE. But when God convicts them and they determine to quit swearing, they get on their knees and pray TILL THE VICTORY COMES! |
| The same is true of a bad temper. People say, "I was born with a bad temper, and I just can't help myself." The fact of the matter is, we were all born with bad tempers and we all need to learn to control them. Moses was "the meekest man in all the earth," but God refused to let him enter the Land of Canaan because he lost his temper (Numbers 20:12). Was Moses unable to control his temper at that time? Had that been so, God would not have held him responsible. Moses tried to excuse his sin but God would not accept his excuses (Deut. 3:26). |
| WE NEVER GET VICTORY OVER ANYTHING WE CAN EXCUSE! |
| Concerning tobacco, doctors have been known to tell their patients that if they become nervous when they don't have tobacco, they should go ahead and smoke. In other words they are telling them not to quit smoking. What the doctors don't know is that God is big enough to take care of our nervousness without tobacco, when we put our trust in Him. |
| We live in a day when anything goes. It's alright to drink, so long as we don't get drunk. It doesn't matter what you do so long as you use moderation. Do you suppose that was Adam's problem? Did he just forget to be temperate? When he took of that forbidden fruit (whatever it was), did he over-indulge? So far as I can determine from Scripture, Adam only partook one time. But Adam did what he did with his eyes wide open, in open rebellion against the revealed will of God. DISOBEDIENCE IS SIN! Adam's one act of disobedience separated Adam and all his descendants from God's holy Presence. We, his descendants, are included because we inherited Adam's rebellious nature. |
| In a similar way, through one act of TOTAL OBEDIENCE to the Father's will, Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, through His Vicarious Death on the Cross of Calvary and His glorious Resurrection, redeemed the entire race. Now all who accept His great Salvation can again enjoy intimate fellowship with our Triune God, possibly even more meaningful than that which Adam enjoyed in Eden! Now we can sing with the Redeemed of all ages: |
It is glory just to walk with Him whose blood has ransomed me; It is rapture for my soul each day; It is joy divine to feel Him near where ‘ere my path may be; Bless the Lord, it's glory all the way! It is glory just to walk with Him, It is glory just to walk with Him; He will guide my steps aright, Thru' the vale and o'er the height; It is glory just to walk with Him. |