Living Smoke Free

Nebuchadnezzar was the narcissistic king of Babylon. Not only did he demand that strong young men of Judah be brought to him and trained in everything Babylon, he had a 90 foot gold statue made of his likeness and demanded that everyone bow down to it when they heard the first notes from a musical instrument. 

Well, we all know the story. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused. They bowed down to one God and it was not Nebuchadnezzar. Well, Neb was so mad when he heard this that he threw these three guys into a fiery furnace, a furnace in which he commanded it to be 7 times hotter than normal. And it was hot. So hot that the soldiers who threw these three boys in were burned up themselves. 

And then a miracle happened. Not only did the three guys not burn up, God was literally with them in the furnace and then when they walked out - here’s the important point - “Not a hair on their heads were singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke.”

I started a new ministry at our church last Sunday. Divorce Care. Never thought I would do such a thing. It’s taken me years to get past the immense pain, not to mention, the courage just to say the word, divorce. But here I am. And I’m doing it because, as I put thought and prayer into leading this ministry, I realized something. I am no longer singed or scorched. I don’t even smell of smoke. 

I gotta tell ya, it’s a great feeling. To be completely healed. Even in the deepest part of my heart, I carry no leftover pain. No more judgment or slander or anger. When the trauma of all this began, I never imagined that I would be here. Not only healed, but in a place where I could support, pray and help lead others to their own healing from divorce.

But this smoke thing has got me thinking. Are there other areas in my life where the smoke remains? From people who have hurt me. From relationships that have been broken. From friends and family who unintentionally bruised my heart. 

Now, some would ask why in the world I would want to return to these times in my life. Why relive it? Well, because if there’s smoke there’s unfinished business. On my part. I didn’t finish what I started. To forgive. Completely. I think there have been times when I said “I forgive you” but then just moved on. But blowing out a flame and snuffing out a flame are two very different approaches to forgiveness. And the former falls under the category of “keeping records of wrongs.”

Since I don’t want to be a record keeper, this week I’m going to focus on the smoke. I want to rid myself of it all. Stay put on any leftover pain or unforgiveness and finish what I started. And allow God to continue his work in me. In order to snuff it all out. To experience the miracle of complete healing. To live a smoke free life.