Smoke Screens

On August 17, 1921, a new smoke screen was demonstrated at Camp Meade for the members of the Reserve Officers’ Training Camp. This smoke screen was said to be denser and more impenetrable than any other smoke screen invented at that time. That day, as the smoke candles were lit, dense white clouds were seen instead of black ones. Not only were these white clouds said to produce smoke in greater quantities than any other smoke candle but Major Atkisson, from the Edgewood Arsenal, stated that the smoke screen was absolutely harmless to the person that walked through it.

The Bible talks about a different kind of smoke screen in Romans chapter 2. Although this smoke screen, called judgmental criticism, isn’t always quite as harmless as the one demonstrated on that day in 1921, it often does have the same effect of diverting attention.

The Bible tells us in Romans 2:2 that, “Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors. But God isn’t so easily diverted. He sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you’ve done.”

The dictionary defines a smoke screen as “a mass of dense artificial smoke used to provide cover.” Interesting; provide cover. I wonder how often, without even realizing it, we try to cover ourselves with the artificial smoke of criticizing others.