22
The Sanctified Life
blessing of entire sanctification, while they were slaves to tobacco,
polluting everything around them, I have thought, How would heaven
appear with tobacco users in it? God’s word has plainly declared that
“there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth” (
Revelation
21:27
). How, then, can those who indulge this filthy habit hope to find
admittance there?
Men professing godliness offer their bodies upon Satan’s altar and
burn the incense of tobacco to his satanic majesty. Does this statement
seem severe? Certainly, the offering is presented to some deity. As
God is pure and holy, and will accept nothing defiling in its character,
He must refuse this expensive, filthy, and unholy sacrifice; therefore
we conclude that Satan is the one who claims the honor.
Jesus died to rescue man from the grasp of Satan. He came to set
us free by the blood of His atoning sacrifice. The man who has become
the property of Jesus Christ, and whose body is the temple of the Holy
Ghost, will not be enslaved by the pernicious habit of tobacco using.
His powers belong to Christ, who has bought him with the price of
blood. His property is the Lord’s. How, then, can he be guiltless in
expending every day the Lord’s entrusted capital to gratify an appetite
which has no foundation in nature?
[32]
An enormous sum is yearly squandered for this indulgence, while
souls are perishing for the word of life. Professed Christians rob God
in tithes and offerings, while they offer on the altar of destroying
lust, in the use of tobacco, more than they give to relieve the poor or
to supply the wants of God’s cause. Those who are truly sanctified
will overcome every hurtful lust. Then all these channels of needless
expense will be turned to the Lord’s treasury, and Christians will take
the lead in self-denial, in self-sacrifice, and in temperance. Then they
will be the light of the world.
Tea and Coffee
Tea and coffee, as well as tobacco, have an injurious effect upon
the system. Tea is intoxicating. Though less in degree, its effect is the
same in character as that of spirituous liquors. Coffee has a greater
tendency to becloud the intellect and benumb the energies. It is not so
powerful as tobacco, but is similar in its effect. The arguments brought
against tobacco may also be urged against the use of tea and coffee.