A Smoker’s Life
Galatians 5:19-21 The wrong things the sinful self does are clear: committing sexual sin, being morally bad, doing all kinds of shameful things, worshiping false gods, taking part in witchcraft, hating people, causing trouble, being jealous, angry or selfish, causing people to argue and divide into separate groups, being filled with envy, getting drunk, having wild parties, and doing other things like this. I warn you now as I warned you before: The people who do these things will not have a part in God’s kingdom.
Morality – that line between right and wrong – throughout history has been something of a moving feast. And over the last twenty years or so, in the name of social progress, that line has moved rather a lot. Question is, has it been good for us?
I love going for long walks; the fresh air, the smells, the sights, the sounds – it just feeds my soul. So the other day, I’m out enjoying the sun on my face, the smell of some flowers, and all of a sudden something else starts to mingle with the fragrance. Smoke! Sure enough, up ahead someone’s just lit up a cigarette.
Now, I used to be a three-packets-a-day smoker, so I understand the craving. Truly I do. But isn’t it amazing how we can take the beautiful world that God’s created, not to mention the incredible bodies He’s given us, pollute them with smoke and then make like we’re enjoying it … while it’s slowly killing is on the inside?
In fact, we rationalise away a whole bunch of things that are bad for us.
Galatians 5:19-21 The wrong things the sinful self does are clear: committing sexual sin, being morally bad, doing all kinds of shameful things, worshiping false gods, taking part in witchcraft, hating people, causing trouble, being jealous, angry or selfish, causing people to argue and divide into separate groups, being filled with envy, getting drunk, having wild parties, and doing other things like this. I warn you now as I warned you before: The people who do these things will not have a part in God’s kingdom.
Now, some may be thinking, “Oh, really, come on! The world’s moved on since then. It’s just the way it is, these days.”
Perhaps … but however hard you try, you still can’t beat the sun on your face and the smell of those flowers.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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