It's no secret that smoking causes a health risk. Filling your lungs with cigarette smoke fills your lungs with hazardous chemicals. If those same chemicals were in your school or at your job, the place would be shut down. The incidence of cancer (particularly lung cancer), emphysema, and heart disease rises dramatically among smokers. Christian teens understand God wants them to care for their bodies.

But that's not the most compelling reason Christian teens refuse to smoke.

Smoking stains your teeth a sickening shade of yellow. It gives you bad breath. It makes your clothing smell foul. What's the line about how kissing a smoker is like kissing an ashtray? Smoking makes a person as socially unacceptable as B.O.

But that's not the most compelling reason Christian teens refuse to smoke.

Smoking robs you of the ability to taste food. It takes away your physical stamina. It ruins your singing and speaking voice. You are less of a person for smoking.

But that's not the most compelling reason Christian teens refuse to smoke.

Smoking by people underage is illegal in every state. In some areas teenagers can be fined for buying or possessing cigarettes. Christian teens know God demands that they obey laws.

But that's not the most compelling reason Christian teens refuse to smoke.

People who smoke have allowed themselves to be manipulated. Cigarette companies have taken advantage of them. Their friends have taken advantage of them. The parents, often, have misled them. Teens will not want others to shape them into something they are not.

But that's not the most compelling reason Christian teens refuse to smoke either.

The most compelling reason Christian teens have to refuse to smoke is Jesus. In Jesus we have forgiveness for all our sins. In Jesus we are guaranteed the God of the Universe is going to treat us as a dear father committed to our happiness forever. In Jesus we are surrounded by God's protection, guidance, and help.

Jesus gives us all this because he left his throne as the Son of God, became one of us, died in our place, and then rose from his grave. Jesus gives us all this because he suffered the punishment our sins deserve. Jesus gives us all this because he loves us more than we could ever measure.

The most compelling reason Christian have to refuse to smoke - or to refuse to do anything God says is wrong - is Jesus.

Pastor Aderman serves the Savior as pastor at Fairview Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is also the editor of LivingBold.