Because I can't serve 2 masters....and having a cigarette or not matters way too much to me to be of God (it is an addiction of the flesh to me).
I would love to be able to claim God just freed me from this...but it hasn't been that simple.
Your prayers would be appreciated.
Matthew 15:10-20
10And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
11Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
12Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
13But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
14Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
15Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.
16And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
17Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
18But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
20These are the things which defile a man:
but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
Beloved of God, all things are lawful for you. Please understand the PARABLE and harden not your heart. It is a cigarette. The smoke enters in through the lungs and whatever that cigarette is made of, the body uses it for and the rest is cast out as draught.
We as children of the Most High can only do what He does. And He does what pleases Him. We all know the consequences of smoking in the form of cancer, but all comes from God. One fate happens to all of us. The man who ate healthy all of his life can die of a heart attack at 30, while one who ate nothing but meat from the time it hit his lips can live to be 100. It is the Father who orders our steps and the only one who knows the final hour of every man.
If I pray, it will be that you may understand and that the truth will set you free. If you are a smoker and you want to stop, then let it be because you don't want to risk dying of cancer, or because it is affecting your job performance. All things may be lawful for you but not expedient or profitable. If smoking affects my job, then I need to stop smoking if I deem paying my bills and taking care of my family is more important to me.
Do you believe that God can be defiled by a cigarette? If not then look in the mirror and ask then why should I believe this as well.