Published: September 23, 2007 01:57 am            

Smoking or non-smoking ... Heaven or Hell?

A poet nor a scribe would I dare pretend to be ... Yet I am compelled to write this that the Holy Spirit gave to me!

God burned this into my heart many months ago...

Saying, “Noah, you have a “story” to tell that others must know.”

But I had this dreadful spirit of fear, which would block my way!

Satan would laugh and whisper...”No Noah, not today.”

“Who in the world cares about what you ever have to say?”

Then I would become discouraged and put my pen and paper away.



Many long, lonely nights would I toss and turn in my bed,

Searching for peace, and sleep ... finding on tears instead.

Praying for day to come to rid me of my fear and dread.



Countless days and long lonely nights have since come and gone,

And I would question God...”What have I done wrong, what sees of sin have I sown?”

Then stark reality soon set in ... and I knew the fault was mine alone!



You see on this road of life many choices we must surely make.

One choice I made turned out to be such a terrible mistake!



A stupid choice I made in my youth, was to light up the “devil’s weed.”

I knew then it wasn’t smart, but that ole devil, Satan, planted the seed.

And sucking on cigarettes became a habit I really didn’t need!



Over 35 years, in my lungs I would draw “poisoned” smoke

In time it became hard to take a breath ... only constantly cough and choke,

Please know young people smoking is dangerous ... it’s no joke!



You see we all seem to think, “Aw, what the heck ... won’t happen to me.”

I thought the same until in 1986, I received bad news, you see.

It finally happened, my doctor said, “Mr. Copeland, you have the big C.”



I went through numerous radiation treatments, but it got worse.

My perfect little world came crashing down like I was under a curse.



One dark day in the year ‘92, as I now remember.

Satan, through cancer, took from me my voice in late December.



Surgery for the cancer took my “voice box” from out of my throat.

And man, did Satan and all his demons dance, and shout and gloat!



They all laughed and said, “That’s one man whose voice will never be heard.

“Now he will never be able to speak of God, His Son or His precious word!”



Now, I can no longer make a sound, no not even a single word.

All because I chose to smoke cigarettes ... how absurd!



Now my voice is silenced ... no sound or laughter, not even a sigh,

Days turned into months, months into years ... I only wanted to die.



Many nights fighting for breath, scared and wide awake.

I would think only of ways my useless like I would take.



I would weep and pray, “Dear God, don’t let me wake from my bed,

This is too hard, I can’t live this way ... I would rather be dead!”



then I heard a whisper in a voice so soft and so sweet,

“Be still and know that I Am God, one day soon we shall meet!

“I gave my precious son, Jesus ... He bled and died, so you might live,

And I have work for you, My Holy Spirit, and power to you I give!”



Oh, thank God through tear-filled eyes, the blessed light I did see,

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ... the precious trinity!

They live in my heart, they loosed my bonds and set me free.



Bless God, I gave my life to Jesus in September, ‘99

I live for Jesus. I’m blessed beyond measure and doing fine.

I even stopped drinkin’ though I stay “drunk” on “new wine.”

The drink Jesus gives us for “wonders” and a “sign.”



Jesus said, “If you will drink of my water, you will never thirst,

I’ve drank that water ... and in my life Jesus is first!

And now I have so much happiness and joy my heart’s about to burst.



I’m so overpowered with the love of God I just had to share!

Because on dark Calvary’s cross, Jesus, our sins, He did bear.

And His promise is that He will ever keep us in His care!



If you don’t know Jesus ... though I really believe you do,

Just drop by my place and I’ll introduce Him to you.



Well folks, this is the story God told me to tell.

Even though my “poetry” is enough to land me in jail.

I sure hope I have at least one friend to make bail!



This is a true story ... I readily admit.

And it’s my story and I’m sticking to it!



Noah Donald Copeland

Meridian

        

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