Secondhand Smoke

By Grant Gaines

According to research done by Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Dr. Elizabeth Cohen, an estimated 600,000 people die each year due to secondhand smoke[1].  Secondhand smoke is also the cause for the third most preventable deaths in our country each year[2].  And the worst part about secondhand smoke is that the victims are not even the ones who committed the act which led to their own death.

As sad as that is, did you know that this can happen to us in a spiritual sense as well?  Like secondhand smoke, if we hang around the temptations of this world long enough, we too will suffer sins’ consequences. This is why James 1:14 (NIV) says that we are, “…dragged away and enticed,” by the desires of this world.

And it’s almost impossible to avoid these temptations. Just as you’ll find a McDonalds or Starbucks around every corner, you’ll seemingly find temptations, “…crouching at your door…” (Genesis 4:7, NIV), waiting for you at every turn.  Temptations are just one click, one careless thought, or one “white lie” away from entangling you in sin (Hebrews 12:1, NIV). And before you know it, you’re spiritual life has been polluted with second hand smoke. This is why 1 John 2:15 (NIV) commands us to, “…not love the world or anything in the world…”

So how on earth are we supposed to live on earth without falling victim to the temptations of earth? God tells us it is all a matter of perspective. Romans 12:2 (NIV) says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Or in other words, we need to change the way we view ourselves regarding our time here on earth.

Rather than viewing ourselves as citizens of this world, we should view ourselves as, “…aliens and strangers in the world…” (1 Peter 2:11, NIV). Rather than seeing ourselves as just another religion, we need to see ourselves as a, “… chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God…” (1 Peter 2:9, NIV).  And rather than thinking of ourselves as victims of this world, we need to realize that we are victors of the world because 1 John 5:4 (NLT) tells us that, “…every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.”

Through changing our perspective, we decrease our likelihood of living, “…by the standards of this world” (2 Corinthians 10:2, NIV), and increase our likelihood of living according to the holy life which God has called us to (2 Timothy 1:9, NIV).

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are excellent examples of abstaining from the “secondhand” temptations of the world. In Daniel 1, we learn that as mere teenagers these four boys were dragged away into captivity by the invading Babylonian army. After arriving in Babylon, these boys were thrust into a training program to become servants in the king’s court.

A part of this training required them to eat food which was in direct opposition to the commands God had given them regarding what Jews could and couldn’t eat. Away from home, their parents, and any form of parental council, it would have been so easy for the four teens to go with the flow and eat the same food as everyone else in the training program, but, “…Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine…” (Daniel 1:8, NIV).

Daniel and his friends knew that if they gave into this temptation, they would find themselves on a slippery slope of sin, so they stood their ground. And because of their devotion to the Lord’s commands, God blessed them and, “…they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food…” (Daniel 1:15, NIV).

Just like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we also have a choice to make every day regarding whether we are going to go with the worldly flow or, “…be strong and immovable…” (1 Corinthians 15:18, NLT) in our devotion to the Lord.

And just like the old saying goes, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” If we don’t make our stand for the Lord, we will fall as victims to the temptations of this world.

Make it your goal today to, “…stand firm” (Ephesians 6:13, ESV) in the Lord.

Comments? Questions? Suggestions?

Email Me

©Grant Gaines 2013