What You Do With What You Know

God judges us according to what we do with the knowledge that we have. If a person smokes, unaware of the health hazards, then “…the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men everywhere to repent [change]” (Acts 17:30).

In I Peter 1:13-14, we are exhorted to “…gird up the loins of [our] mind…as obedient children, not fashioning [ourselves] according to the former lusts in [our] ignorance.” The apostle James was inspired to write, “…to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin” (James. 4:17). If a smoker is aware of the dangers he exposes himself to and turns a deaf ear to the warnings, God will hold him accountable for his actions!

Overcoming Is a Process

Overcoming any bad habit or sin is not easy. It is a lifelong process, because no one is or will be perfect as long as he is a flesh-and-blood human being. All Christians battle three enemies: (1) Satan; (2) the pulls of this world; and (3) our own human nature. But if you follow the steps below, individual sins can be overcome.

1. Admit to yourself and to God that you have a problem. This is the first, great step toward eliminating sin from our lives. James 1:23-24 states, “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholds himself, and goes his way, and straightway forgets what manner of man he was.” Merely seeing a problem in your life will not make it go away. You have to acknowledge it and determine to do something about it. I John 1:9 states, “If we confess our sins, He [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Once we do our part, God has promised to do His.

2. Realize that with God’s help, you can “kick the habit.” Pray and ask God for His help. As Paul stated in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” There is no trial that you face that Christ does not understand. Hebrews 4:15 gives us encouragement: “For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

3. Tell yourself that “quitting is quitting,” not merely cutting back. Gradually quitting is not quitting! Smokers often think they can quit by placing a limit on the number of cigarettes they smoke—leaving a temptation. But Christ commands us to “…pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:41). In James 1:14, we are instructed to avoid compromising situations: “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”

4. Seek medical advice. Making a sudden, drastic change in an addictive habit (especially if it has been practiced for years) will carry certain health side effects. But they could be curbed if addressed properly and in a timely fashion.

5. Do not be discouraged. When trying to overcome an addiction, you may find that you are tempted to fall right back into it. I Peter 5:8-9 exhorts, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”

Satan does not want you to succeed in overcoming and receive the reward that he knows he can never have—son ship in God’s kingdom (Heb. 2:10; Rev. 21:3). Satan will put every imaginable obstacle in your way. Remember, you are wrestling against “…principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12).

By diligently applying the principles above, you will be able to successfully overcome smoking.

“You will gain many benefits from your decision to quit smoking. Most importantly, it may save your life. Those who quit smoking decrease their risk of lung disease, heart disease, emphysema and cancer. They are proud to be rid of the hacking coughs, the messy ash trays, the smell of stale smoke at home, in their cars and on their clothes and hair, and the nicotine stains on their fingers and teeth. Some people report rejuvenation in their senses of smell and taste as well as increased vitality. But for most, the first noticeable difference is a sense of pride in knowing they have ‘kicked the habit’” (www.aquitsmoking.com).

God commands us to, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2). What will you do?