Spiritual Warfare #44

Underlying Causes of Sin by Charles Stanley
God never changes. His principles and promises remain steadfast. Therefore, a moral law that is stated in the Old Testament is just as valid in the New Testament.

The apostle Paul virtually restated the moral principle of the book of Exodus in 1 Corinthians: "Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body" (1 Cor. 6:18-20).

Principles to Live By
God has given us foundational principles, boundaries, and guidelines to follow. If we violate them, we will reap the consequences. Sexual fulfillment is reserved for marriage. It is something to be enjoyed between a husband and wife-not two men and not two women.

It also should be something that flows from a sense of genuine love-godly love for one's spouse. It may be an act of love, but it also reflects our willingness to ask, "What is best for my wife?" or "What is best for my husband?" Sexual expression should be unselfish, intimate, and most of all, based on God's love.

Satan crouches at our door, waiting for us to appear interested in some behavior that is sinful and dead wrong. At times, he tells us that we have needs and those needs must be met. If given an opportunity, he will bombard a person's mind with thoughts of passion until it seems he is being driven by an unseen force-one that beckons him to meet his needs without consideration of God's will.

Again there is a degree of truth within this lie. God has created each one of us with basic needs. Sexual fulfillment or intimacy is one of these. However, many people who are not married find fulfillment in ways other than sexual expression. Problems arise when a person goes against the moral principles God has established in His Word. He created sex so that we could express love to our spouses.

It has been heartbreaking to me to listen to the many accounts of infidelity. Young men and women thought that the only way they could experience love was to engage in sexual contact without waiting to be married. Others strayed in their love for one another and ended up in adulterous relationships-all because they listened to Satan's lie and believed that there was something better than what God had given them.

This may sound old-fashioned, but if you fail to wait until you are married to express your love for your mate, then you will miss one of the most precious blessings that God has given to every man and woman. There is something about purity and the marriage bed that lifts a relationship to a higher level.

That last paragraph is something that I can attest to. Greg and I waited before we got married. We became friends over 4 months and began courting. We courted for 4 months before we got engaged, and 3 months later we were married. We were in our early forties and had been married before. Though from the outside it may look rushed, but for us, we were married soon enough not to be too tempted and courted long enough to know that God had chosen each other for us. Both of us submitted to God's choice of who we should marry. We didn't go by looks, or success, or any other factor. We wanted who God chose for us. Risky? Yes. Worth it? Definitely. God knows better than anyone who we should marry. God refined me through 13 years of singleness and Greg through 5. Greg was very much worth the 13 year wait, and I would have waited longer if necessary to have him. If you are single, are you submitted to God's choice for a life-long mate, no matter how long it will take? It's not about finding the right person, it's about being the right person. God knows who they are and will bring them to you when you're both ready.