20
The Sanctified Life
mental, and moral health, that we may present to the Lord our bodies,
not an offering corrupted by wrong habits, but “a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God.”
Stimulants and Narcotics
Peter’s admonition to abstain from fleshly lusts is a most direct and
forcible warning against the use of all such stimulants and narcotics
as tea, coffee, tobacco, alcohol, and morphine. These indulgences
may well be classed among the lusts that exert a pernicious influence
upon moral character. The earlier these hurtful habits are formed, the
more firmly will they hold their victim in slavery to lust, and the more
certainly will they lower the standard of spirituality.
Bible teaching will make but a feeble impression upon those whose
faculties are benumbed by self-gratification. Thousands will sacrifice
not only health and life but their hope of heaven before they will wage
war against their own perverted appetites. One lady who for many
years claimed to be sanctified, made the statement that if she must
give up her pipe or heaven she would say, “Farewell, heaven; I cannot
overcome my love for my pipe.” This idol had been enshrined in the
soul, leaving to Jesus a subordinate place. Yet this woman claimed to
be wholly the Lord’s!
[29]
Lusts That War Against the Soul
Wherever they may be, those who are truly sanctified will elevate
the moral standard by preserving correct physical habits, and, like
Daniel, presenting to others an example of temperance and self-denial.
Every depraved appetite becomes a warring lust. Everything that
conflicts with natural law creates a diseased condition of the soul. The
indulgence of appetite produces a dyspeptic stomach, a torpid liver,
a clouded brain, and thus perverts the temper and spirit of the man.
And these enfeebled powers are offered to God, who refused to accept
the victims for sacrifice unless they were without a blemish! It is our
duty to bring our appetites and our habits of life into conformity to
natural law. If the bodies offered upon Christ’s altar were examined
with the close scrutiny to which the Jewish sacrifices were subjected,
who would be accepted?