Adultery
The first sexual union between a man and a woman brings a
mystical union between the two, and marriage is consummated right there. The
Bible says,
Do you not know and realize that when a man joins himself to
a prostitute he becomes one body with her? The two, it is written, shall become
one flesh" (1 Corinthians 6:16).
In the Old Testament, sexual union between a man and a woman
is spoken of as "knowing". Sexual intercourse is not an act that has
merely physical effects. Neither can it be easily forgotten. It fuses the two
involved into one in a mysterious way. This is why God has placed so many
deterrents along the pathway of sexual irregularity - deadly diseases like
syphilis and gonorrhea to name just two. The Bible says that
God Himself will judge those who traffic in the bodies of
others (Hebrews 13:4 - JBP).
Young men usually look for privilege and enjoyment without
attendant responsibilities. This is why they are tempted to seek for the
pleasure of sexual indulgence without the responsibilities of married life. Men
who degrade sex like that can expect nothing but the curse and judgment of God
upon their lives.
Young men are sometimes challenged by their perverted
worldly friends to prove their manhood by sexual intercourse. They are derided
if they don't date a girl or if they cannot recount any sexual adventures. True
manhood however is proved not by sexual license but by self-control.
The Bible gives us the example of David who "lost
out" partially because of unbridled lust. Notice the circumstances that
led to his fall. 2 Samuel 11:1 & 2 tell us that he had been staying lazily
at home when he should have been out on the battlefield. He had neglected his
duty and given way to sloth and ease. Then he saw Bathsheba. Instead of
disciplining his eyes he continued to gaze at her and thus fell into sin.
We read in the Bible also of Samson who "lost out"
completely as a result of his uncontrolled passions (Judges 14 & 16). When
he saw a beautiful women, he forgot all about his calling as a servant of God -
and thereby lost his ministry. Many others since, have fallen in exactly the
same manner and lost their ministry too.
On the other hand, we read of Joseph who had neither the
luxury and ease and position that David had, nor the high calling to the
service of God that Samson had, and yet who triumphed completely over lust.
Genesis 39 should be read and studied by every young man. We see there in verse
7, how the temptation came to Joseph suddenly one day, without any warning
whatsoever. So will it come to us. If we are not prepared for it beforehand, we
shall assuredly fall. If Joseph had been indulging in lustful thinking in his
private life, he would have fallen easily. But Joseph had been practicing the
presence of God and so when the temptation came, the presence of God was more
real to him that the presence of anyone else. If Joseph's spirituality had been
only something put on to impress others and not something deep and real, then
he would undoubtedly have succumbed to such a strong temptation.
Notice too that it was the fear of God that held Joseph back
from falling into sin and not the fear of being discovered or the fear of
punishment (verse 9). Alas, it is only these latter fears that hold back many
people from sins these days. But Joseph's relationship with God was far deeper
than the superficial relationship that most folks have in our day.
We read that Joseph resisted repeated attempts made by
Potiphar's wife to lead him into sin (verse 10). He said, "No" the
first time and so it was easier for him to say "No" the second time
and easier still the third time. As the hymn says,
"Yield not to temptation for yielding is sin;
Each victory will help you some other to win".
Verse 10 tells us that Joseph avoided the presence of
Potiphar's wife altogether. This is always the safest course to follow - to
avoid the scene of temptation totally when ever possible.
Joseph's example warns us that we will have to be careful in
our relationships with the opposite sex. And if it is not only in the presence
of attractive girls that caution has be to be exercised, for temptation can
come from unattractive girls too. Some of the latter, aware of their lack of
beauty, may at times try to make up for it, by offering greater freedom to men
to touch their bodies.
The Bible warns us,
Avoid sexual looseness like the plague! Every other sin that
a man commits is done outside his own body, but this is an offense against his
own body. Have you forgotten that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit
who lives in you and is God's gift to you, and that you are not the owner of
your own body? You have been bought, and at what a price! Therefore bring glory
to God in your body (1 Corinthians 6:18-20 - JBP).
And again,
Run from anything that gives you the evil thoughts that
young men often have" (2 Timothy 2:22 - TLB).
That was what Joseph did. He did not mind being slandered or
even imprisoned, but he refused to yield to lust. No wonder God honoured him.
Perhaps failure in this realm may be the reason why God cannot honour many
young men today!
Homosexuality
Homosexuality refers to sexual attraction between
individuals of the same sex. It was one of the sins for which God judged Sodom
and Gomorrah in Lot's time. It is condemned in no uncertain terms in Leviticus
18:22 and in 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10. The Bible warns those who indulge in
homosexual practices that they will "receive in their own personalities
the consequences of sexual perversity" (Romans 1:26-27 - JBP). The Old
Testament law specified death without mercy for those who practiced sodomy
(Leviticus 20:13).
A believer should not only have nothing whatsoever to do
with homosexuality, he should also avoid having any unnatural affection towards
someone of his own sex. He should likewise resist the subtle approaches of
homosexual-minded people. If you are already in the grip of this evil habit,
seek the Lord's face earnestly for deliverance and endeavour to have healthy,
normal contact with the opposite sex. It may help too, if you seek the counsel
and prayer-help of an older believer.
