Ed. Note: The following has been adapted from comments of a young brother. We feel they are very timely for our day—fitting for the exercise of all.
The moral lie encompassed in the statement “love can’t wait” is being perpetrated throughout the world today, especially in so-called Christian lands.
Moral corruption is conveyed many ways, especially the media—such as radio, television and movies. Such thinking has affected Christians. We have become hardened to corrupted lifestyles that a few decades ago were considered perverse and immoral. Biblical standards are considered archaic and old-fashioned. Humanism teaches that as we become more sophisticated, we must get in tune with our emotional needs—apart from any godly restraints.
The truth is found in Ecclesiastes 1:9. “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” Further, in Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” One can never know the depths of his heart—its lust, greed and all manner of immorality. “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool” (Prov. 28:26).
A scholar once commented that “history teaches us that man learns nothing from history.” Sadly, Christians often prove this truth spiritually. Rather than heeding the warnings of God’s Word, the flesh is allowed, and a pathway of feeding and acting upon lust is embarked upon. It’s very hard to stop once you begin that road—something like having no brakes in a speeding car approaching a hairpin curve!
Matthew 5:28 is sobering for the conscience. “I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” I’ve heard all sorts of statements made to nullify its full impact. But man can’t circumvent God’s unchanging truth.
What are we to do? Trust in and rely upon Him! There are, in the Word, wonderful promises of needed strength to stand against this flood of immorality. “God is my strength and power” (2 Sam. 22:33). “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped” (Psa. 28:7). “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Prov. 3:5).
Regarding moral temptation, Scripture is very clear—flee (2 Tim. 2:22)! When Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, he didn’t stay and reason with her. “She caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out” (Gen. 39:12). The language of verse 10 suggests that he didn’t want to be anywhere near her and her temptations.
Furthermore, Satan’s lies haven’t changed. They are all bright, attractive-appearing packages which often fall into one of three categories.
First, he says, “You can’t trust God.” When Satan entered into conversation with Eve, his first recorded words were, “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Gen. 3:1). A seed of doubt was planted in her mind and then Satan openly contradicted God: “Ye shall not surely die.”
Next, Satan insinuates that “God is withholding something from you.” “God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:5). He ever seeks to get the believer to question the goodness of God!
Third, Adam is caught—perhaps by the same false reasoning that we hear today: “Everybody’s doing it—you can too!” “She gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat” (Gen. 3:6). First Timothy 2:14 tells us that “Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” Adam knew it was wrong; he knew the consequences of disobedience, but he did it anyway. After all, everybody else (Eve) had done it! To use the excuse that “everyone does it” is but to accept Satan’s lie.
May God help each of us to walk in purity and righteousness before our God, for “as He is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy word” (Psa. 119:9).
“Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body” (1 Cor. 6:18).
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers . . . in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12).
A. Scharf (adapted)