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I’ve Got a Secret
Many years ago when television was in its infancy there was a game show program entitled I’ve Got a Secret. Gary Moore, a veteran performer in theatre and radio, was host to a panel of three celebrity judges and a contestant. This contestant had a secret, which only the game show host was privileged to know. The secret had to be unusual, humorous, embarrassing, or amazing. Panel members probed and prodded the contestant until the secret was revealed. The contestant won a prize and the audience won amusement. I’ve Got a Secret was popular with the public, entertaining, and exciting.
Unlike I’ve Got a Secret, God, who knows all things, isn’t happy with our secrets – our secret sins. In fact, they’re no secret to him at all. Like a child we can close our eyes and pretend he isn’t there, and he can’t see what we’re doing. But, he is, and he knows.
Shhh, I have a secret sin. It might be a secret to you but not to God. He knows I’m plagued with this problem. I pray every day for victory, and I know it will come soon to his glory.
Now that I’ve struck your curiosity, I’ll tell you my secret – shhh – it’s smoking. Yes, I smoke those nasty cigarettes, those smelly, fowl tubes of tobacco. I’ve been smoking for some time, and I desperately want to quit. In my efforts to quit I’ve tried nicotine gum and patches but to no avail. Quitting “cold turkey” seems the best method for me. The only answer for me is to lay the cigarettes down and trust Jesus for the outcome. Scripture memorization and the infilling of the Holy Spirit will be my “patch.”
I am most definitely aware that cigarettes are dangerous to health. They cause heart disease, strokes, and cancer. They aren’t called “coffin nails” in vain. I was hospitalized a while ago, and I shared my room with a lung cancer patient. She had smoked for 60 years, and she was very sick. Needless to say, when she coughed and choked, I was very frightened.
My biggest gripe about my sin is the cost of cigarettes. It is exorbitant! I worry about paying tithes to the Lord, yet I feel like I’m paying tithes to the devil with my smoking habit. Disgusting! We could sponsor a child in a foreign land with my cigarette money. Since my Maltese died last summer, I’ve been yearning for another puppy. If I saved my cigarette money, I could cuddle and hold a puppy instead of cradling dirty cigarettes.
To serve and glorify the Lord with my life, sums up my mission statement. I can’t attain this with nicotine nagging my body all the time. After church service, prayer meeting, and missionary circle, I rush home to light up a cigarette to quench that nagging tug of nicotine. I’d like to be relaxed and enjoy the fellowship instead of puffing away.
Worst of all, the Holy Spirit abides in me, and smoking, I believe, defiles this temple. I love the Lord, yet I have a healthy fear of him and his chastisement. My heart’s desire is to give God my best; that is being smoke-free. Despite it all, I know God loves me, and I will put those cigarettes down some day to his glory. When I graduate to heaven, I hope that he will say, “Well done good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21 NIV)
I can shout, “praise be to God,” and sing in exaltation.
I know verses back and forth to win someone’s salvation.
I go to church on the Lord’s Day and read His Word, no jokin’!
But, of all the silly things I just can’t quit this smokin’!
I love all my friends at church; they think I’m wise and jolly.
But, they would be ashamed of me if they knew of my folly.
I turned away from all my sins when my life to Him was woken,
But, of all the silly things, I just can’t quit this smokin’!
Oh Lord, won’t you help me now with this war I’m fightin’!
I’ve eaten candy to the gills and started nail-bitin’.
One day my life on earth will end; I’ll live where Truth is spoken.
And You will be so proud of me “cause I quit that silly smokin’!
Shhh – My secret’s out. Is yours?
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