Smoking or Non-Smoking?

“So I said, Who are You, Sir? And He said, I am Jesus, whom you persecute.  But arise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things in which I will appear to you.  I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the authority of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.”  Acts 26:15-18

 

“There is a way which seems right to a man, but the end of it is the ways of death.”  Proverbs 14:12

 

“And many of those sleeping in the earth’s dust shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to reproach and everlasting abhorrence.”  Daniel 12:2

 

Recently an article published called The Back of the Bus went over the segregation of those who are vaccinated or not.  It seems good for me to once again touch on this topic, as it is a relevant object lesson regarding individuals and their eternity. 

 

Without searching out such things, I found a couple of news items that pushed this vaccine segregation even further than I would have imagined would have happened.  The first was from my current home state, Michigan, where it was double-downed that vaccinated people do not have to wear masks in the workplace. 

 

While this was only a repeat of what was already said, there was a catch this time.  Employers had to come up with a way to determine who was and was not vaccinated, in order to comply with this new order.  The burden of proof, as well as the threat of fines for non-compliance, rests solely with the business, underneath the watching eyes of the government. 

 

Mandating a business to police who has or does not have a vaccination is something that most businesses would have never contemplated doing.  Furthermore, there was also a news clip from a restaurant owner in Chicago that was quite disturbing.

 

This restaurant owner worked with the local health department in Chicago to develop a plan of compliance for his restaurant.  The solution: a section for those who are vaccinated and a section for those who are not. 

 

I’m old enough to remember a time when you would walk into a restaurant and the host or hostess would ask if you want to sit in the smoking or non-smoking section.  I’m also aware prior to that it didn’t matter, there was also a time where people just smoked throughout the entire restaurant.  However, this restaurant will require proof of vaccination and place a pink band on the wrist of the proven person.

 

The benefits, a normal, non social distanced restaurant where those who are vaccinated can mingle in the pre-pandemic lifestyle that they once had, all by being served by vaccinated staffing of the establishment.  Those on the other side of the plexi-glass will continue to have their table separated apart, able to enjoy a view on the other side of the plexi-glass of those who are of the vaccinated class of people.

 

Of course there are varying opinions on whether or not this is a good thing or a bad thing.  In a local poll about whether or not Michigan should get rid of mask mandates, literally it is tied at 50% who think it is a good idea and 50% who think it is a bad idea, with a few who ‘don’t care either way’.  While this poll only reflects a small local population, the division is quite obvious.

 

So as a society there is going to be a lot of political ‘debate’ regarding these restrictions and whether or not they are constitutional, legal or necessary.  This is going to continue for at least some time.  For some they will become outraged that there are different sections and for others they will applaud such a move and be grateful that they are being protected from those who disagree.  What people fail to recognize, as a whole, is the fact that all are born ‘unvaccinated’ against sin. 

 

… “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”  Romans 3:23

 

While our societies around the world have developed vaccinations to supposedly protect us against the effects of COVID-19, God has provided a ‘vaccination’ against the wages of sin.

 

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

 

All are born in sin.

 

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”  Psalms 51:5

 

“What then? Do we surpass them? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin.  As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.  They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.  Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips; whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.  Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known.  There is no fear of God before their eyes.”  Romans 3:9-18

 

This includes you.  You see the problem is that the ‘virus’ or sin entered the world through Adam.

 

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to every person, because everyone sinned.”  Romans 5:12

 

This sin separates us from God.  Our world has those who would love to use vaccine passports or records to free us from the bondage that has been caused by the government action relating to the pandemic, yet God sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sins on the Cross to free us from the bondage of sin.

 

“For the love of Christ holds us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them and rose again.  Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  Now all things are from God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the Word of reconciliation.  Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ. As God is exhorting through us, we beseech you on Christ’s behalf, Be reconciled to God.  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  2^nd Corinthians 5:14-21

 

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone believing into Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  The one believing into Him is not judged; but the one not believing is judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.  For everyone practicing evil hates the Light and does not come to the Light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  But the one doing the truth comes to the Light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been worked in God.”  John 3:16-21

 

“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:  Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but gave Himself over to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.”  1^st Peter 2:21-24

 

“Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted by God; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.  But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lusts and enticed.  Then, when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.”  Jacob (James) 1:13-15

 

The world became rattled by the unsettledness of COIVD-19 and continues this day.  Even now there are many problems currently happening in Japan, India is not much better and Melbourne, Australia just went into lockdown again, for the fourth time.  Each country certainly has its’ own way of doing things, just as Florida verses California took much different approaches to dealing with COVID-19.  Yet God has one approach and one approach for each individual.

 

God has also certainly done many things in regards to this sin ‘virus’ that has spread around the globe.  He has used preachers to warn people, prophets whom He sent to declare what was to come and to warn those who would listen.  He uses pastors to watch over His flock and carefully ensure that they guide the people to truly follow the Good Shepherd (Jn. 10:11).  God has evangelist who go about proclaiming His truths, Believers who hand out tracts or tell others about the Gospel.  Amongst all, He has given us His Word, the Bible, as a means for us to know Him. 

 

The CDC, state and local health departments, the media and numerous other medical facilities have spent much time warning us about the dangers of COVID.  Do you really need a reminder to wear a mask?  Have you forgotten about social distancing?  Are you not aware there is no an available vaccine?  Yet why aren’t the people aware and actively heeding the warnings that God has given to all of us to repent from our sins and by faith believe in the Lord Jesus Christ that we might be Saved?

 

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has established a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has appointed. He has given assurance of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”  Acts 17:30-31

 

… “testifying both to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Acts 20:21

 

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under Heaven given among men that is required for us to be saved.”  Acts 4:12

 

You see, dear reader, God has throughout the ages been warning people to accept the free gift of Salvation (Eph. 2:8-10), to turn towards Him and no longer walk in darkness.  There is a virus on this earth and that virus in sin.  The end result of that is eternity in Hell, something that can not be compared to the woes of this finite world. 

 

“For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not of works, that no one should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”  Ephesian 2:8-10

 

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), proving what is acceptable to the Lord.  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”  Ephesians 5:8-11

 

“Behold, Jehovah empties the earth and makes it bare, and distorts its face, and scatters its inhabitants.  And as it is with the people, so it shall be with the priest; as with the servant, so with the master; as with the maid, so it is with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the creditor, so with the debtor.  The land shall be completely emptied, and utterly plundered; for Jehovah has spoken this Word.  The earth mourns and fades away; the world droops and fades away; the haughty people of the earth grow feeble.  The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, and have broken the perpetual covenant.  Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell in it are held guilty; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left.”  Isaiah 24:1-6

 

“And the devil, who led them astray, was cast into the Lake of Fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.  And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heavens fled away. And there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God. And books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, out of the things which were written in the books.  And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one, according to their works.  And Death and Hades were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death.  And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire.”  Revelation 20:10-15

 

The death rate for COVID is a mere fraction in regards to the overall amount of cases.  While it certainly does happen, death is guaranteed to happen to us all, unless we are of that generation of those who are truly Saved and we are Raptured to go with the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thes. 4:14-18). 

 

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, without sin, unto salvation.”  Hebrews 9:27-28

 

Most people will probably never make it this far into an article, in fact most people would not even visit the website or if they happened upon it would instantly click out.  Nonetheless, my responsibility and the responsibility of every Born Again Believer (Jn. 3:3) is to ensure that the Gospel is spread to all who will listen (Matt. 28:19-20).  For this is serious and not a joke…there is no deception herein.  Rather will you continue to ignore God and His warnings (Col. 1:28) or will you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, realizing the price that He paid on the Cross for your sins?  For God desires that you too be Saved, will you?

 

“Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of Jehovah been revealed?  For He grows up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of the dry ground. He has no form nor splendor that we should regard Him, nor anything spectacular that we should desire Him.  He is despised and rejected by men; a Man of pain, and knowing infirmity; a hiding of faces; being despised, we have esteemed Him not.  Truly He has borne our sicknesses, and carried our pain; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.  But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, each one to his own way; and Jehovah has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.  He has been oppressed, and He was afflicted; yet He opens not His mouth. He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before its shearers is mute, so He opens not His mouth.  He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall declare His generation? For He was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of My people He was stricken.  And His grave was assigned with the wicked, and with the rich in His death; although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.  Yet it pleased Jehovah to crush Him; to grieve Him; that He should give His soul as a sin-offering. He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the delight of Jehovah shall prosper in His hand.  He shall see the travail of His soul, and shall be fulfilled. By His knowledge shall My righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.  Therefore I will apportion to Him with the great, and He shall divide the spoils with the strong; because He has poured out His soul unto death; and He was reckoned among the transgressors; and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”  Isaiah 53

 

“But, beloved, do not be unaware of this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness, but is longsuffering toward us, not purposing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with intense burning; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.”  2^nd Peter 3:8-10

 

Amen!