A GOOD SMOKE!

A Chaplain offered a man a New Testament printed on thin paper. The man said, “Thank you very much but it’s a waste giving it to me because I’ll only tear out the pages and use the paper to roll cigarettes!” The Chaplain prayed quickly for guidance then replied, “I don’t mind if you tear the pages out so long as you promise to read each one on both sides before you smoke it.” The man agreed and went away with the holy book.

Many years passed by and one day a man spoke to the Chaplain after a church service. “Do you remember giving a New Testament to a man who promised to read each page before he smoked it?” “Yes,” said the Chaplain, “I remember it very clearly and I prayed that God would use His word in that man’s heart.” “Well,” said the man, “I am that person and I want to tell you how God answered your prayer. I smoked my way through Matthew, then through Mark then through Luke but when I got to John chapter 3 verse 16 I could go no further. I read its wonderful words over and over again, ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ I tell you sir, it broke my heart when I realised that God loved me so much that He gave His only son to take the punishment I deserved so that I could be forgiven. I surrendered my life to Christ and I’ve never wanted to smoke since!”

Today 120,000 die annually in Britain through smoking. The total tax revenue on tobacco is spent on treating those who have gambled with the habit and lost. The best antidote is still the power of Christ.