Question Corner by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Nov 1, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 44.

Question Corner

By Editor

1731.—Remedy for Tobacco.

By reading your paper I can read my Bible better than ever before. A question: Is there any known remedy to break any one from using tobacco? and is it a sin to use it? If so, I would be glad to be convinced of the fact, for I am a slave to it. W.

The last question, "Is it a sin?" the brother has himself already answered, when he says, "I am a slave to it." God calls man to liberty. Even the slave, if he respond to God's call, "is the Lord's freedman." 1 Cor. 7:22. He calls us to one service—His own. He has bought us with a price, even His own precious blood, and, therefore, we are Christ's bondservants. But where has Christ told us to use tobacco. Think of these things: (1) Tobacco is a filthy habit, as its most inveterate users will admit. But God exhorts us to "cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 2 Cor. 7:1.

2. "Know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own; for ye were bought with a price; glorify God therefore in your body." 1 Cor. 6:19, 20. But physicians—the best of them—tell us that some of the worst forms of disease of heart and eye and brain come from the use of tobacco; it poisons the one who uses it, and his breath and exhalations poison his wife and children who are closely associated with him. Of course, this defaces, defiles, mars, destroys, the temple of God; but God says: "If any man destroyeth the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye." 1 Cor. 3:16, 17. Is it right to indulge in any habit which will destroy God's temple? and if not right, is it not sin? 1 John 5:17.

3. Tobacco is a narcotic, benumbing all the finer sensibilities of soul and body. Is it glorifying God to use it? 1 Cor. 10:31: "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." Is it to God's glory to defile His temple? to destroy His temple? to unfit ourselves for His service?

4. Then think of the expense to you every year. How will you give an account to God of how you have used this means? Much more might be said.

As to the first question: "Is there a remedy?"—There is. Some men are strong enough or the habit weak enough, so they can quit themselves. Some have been helped to break the habit by drugs. But these are uncertain cures. There is one infallible remedy, Jesus Christ. If He can not save you from tobacco, He can not save you at all. But He can save. He was anointed "to proclaim release to the captives," "to set at liberty them that are bruised." Luke 4:18. "Thou shalt call His name JESUS [Saviour]; for He shall save His people from their sins." Matt. 1:21. First of all in His name and for His sake quit it, short off; whatever suffering it may cost, whatever nerve torture, quit it. Even tho you think you will die, quit it. Be willing to die. Then ask by faith, simple, childlike faith, for Him, the tender, loving, mighty Saviour, to help you, to give you the victory. Tell Him that if He wants you to fight for it and suffer the temptation, that you are willing to fight if He will give you strength, and then believe that He does give power. Praise Him for it. If the temptation comes hard, pray. Bring Him in all His glory and power before you, as He is. If you could see Him looking upon you with your natural eyes, you would not yield. Know that He is doing it, and stand in the strength of His presence. If you have no strength, ask Him to take away the appetite, the desire. He has done it in many cases.

Then co-operate with Him. Do not work too hard, yet keep busy. Take hot baths, and sweat the tobacco out of your system. Drink plenty of water. Eat good, nourishing food. Get all the sleep you can. Do not use strong condiments, such as pepper, etc. All strong, stimulating foods increase the demand for the tobacco poison. Keep away from all associations which would lead you down. Put away tobacco and pipe forever. Enlist in the war to win if you die; you will never die with Him. Thousands have conquered who were slaves, and they would not go back to its bondage for worlds. You can conquer in Him.

1732.—What is the Bride of Christ?

Please explain through your paper Rev. 21:2 in connection with Rev. 19:7, 8. It is claimed that the literal city is to be the Bride of Christ, and that the marriage is going on now. Also Gal. 4:22-31, especially verse 26. A SUBSCRIBER.

But does not the Word say that the city is the bride? What did the angel say to John?—"Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the wife of the Lamb." Rev. 21:9. What did he show John?—"And he . . . showed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God." Verse 10. "I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband." Verse 2. What is a part of her adornment?—"Fine linen, bright and pure; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." Rev. 19:8. The greatest adornment of a person is his character. 1 Peter 3:3, 4; Isa. 61:10. The greatest glory of a mother is her children with beautiful characters. And so the greatest glory of Jerusalem will be her redeemed children. Again, Jerusalem, as the capital city of the new earth, stands for the everlasting kingdom of Christ. Compare Isa. 54:1-5 with Gal. 4:22-31. Christ is the Husband and everlasting Father (Isa. 9:6); New Jerusalem and the new earth our rightful mother. The people of God are the children, the guests. This figure includes all blessings. It is also true that in other scriptures the church is likened to the bride (Jer. 3:14; 31:32; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:23-27); and likewise the individual believer is so likened (Rom. 7:4; Gal. 3:27).