"Keep thy heart with all diligence;
for out of it are the issues of life."
- Proverbs 4:23

It just doesn't make sense.  There is no logic to it.  I have never understood it.

A guy that I went to high school with has had asthma almost all of his life.  We're talking severe asthma.  A life threatening case of asthma.  One that requires a lot of attention.  

Added to that problem, several years ago, one of his lungs collapsed.

And he's had surgery.

And, quite obviously, breathing is very difficult at times for him.

Here's the part I don't understand...

...he smokes cigarettes.

That's right, here's a guy who is operating on one lung, has life-threatening asthma, and, on a good day, has breathing that is labored at best, and he willingly inhales cigarette smoke knowing that it is destroying him and could kill him at any second.

He's a friend and I love him in the Lord, but he just won't listen to me when I say, "Stay away from the things that are going to hurt you."

And so, he takes chances.  Adds unnecessary risks to his life.  Places tremendous pressure and stress upon his already overworked heart.

And he's not unlike a lot of us when it comes to our spiritual hearts.  How many chances do we take when we flirt with sin?  How many unnecessary risks are added to our life when we disobey the Lord's commandments?  How much added pressure and stress to our spiritual hearts is added when we involve ourselves in things that the Word of God says abstain from?

It just doesn't make sense how we can know certain things are harmful to us and we continue to "light up spiritual cigarettes" and inhale toxins into our lives.

You see, God didn't give us His Word to take the fun out of life.  The Bible isn't some divine lawbook designed to make us miserable and keep us from having a good time.  God's Word has instructions and guidance because the Lord wants to say...

...stay away from the things that are going to hurt you.

When I tell my friend to avoid smoking, it's not because I want to ruin his life, it's because I want to prolong it.  I don't encourage him to quit because I want to boss him around, I do it because I am concerned about him and want the best for him.  

Likewise, we can see those same motives in God's issuing of His Word.  Jesus tells us in John 10:10 that "the thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:  I AM COME THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE LIFE, AND THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY."  God gives us instruction because He loves us and wants us to have the abundant life in Christ Jesus.  He warns us of pitfalls and hazards because He doesn't want to see harm come upon our lives.

If we want healthy physical hearts, we've got to avoid risk factors like smoking, drinking, fatty foods and so forth.  And, if we want healthy spiritual hearts, we must likewise avoid risk factors.  We must "stay away from the things that are going to hurt us."

I'm praying for my friend to "kick the habit" when it comes to smoking cigarettes.  I'm also asking the Lord to help you and I "kick the habit" of anything in our lives that is harmful to our spiritual hearts.

I am convinced that He will clean up our hearts just as he promised...