By Funom Makama
Alluring, enticing temptations assault us on every hand. Millions of people feel the pressure of these sexual allurements. Many consider that they are temptations too strong to say "No!" to, like the undercurrent that sweeps one down the rapids of the Zambezi River toward the resistless plunge over Victoria Falls. If one were to swim with all his might, he could not resist being swept over the rocks!
But destruction awaits us below, sure and certain. Are we helpless victims? Many think so, for they have given up, and worship sex as a god or a goddess as surely as did the ancient Greeks and Romans. When you are tempted to sexual immorality of any kind, read Paul's beautiful letter to the Ephesians. It seems written especially to meet this problem! The inspired apostle gives just the help we need. He speaks of "the ways of this world" in which all of us lived at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts." But "you must no longer live as the Gentiles do," he says. "Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more." "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-such a man is an idolater-has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God, because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient" (Ephesians 2:2, 3; 4:17-19; 5:3-6).
Could the 'wrath' he speaks of the venereal disease, including Herpes? Perhaps; for sure we know that sexual immorality often brings disease, as well as eventual futility and loneliness. Almost always, those who take what God has not yet given them, unlawful sex, end up with no sex, living barren, empty, lonely lives. But does the inspired apostle merely tell us what not to do, like laying down an impossible law for us? Or does he show us how to resist such temptations? Does he have "good news" for us or only good advice? Good advice alone is helpless against these temptations. Read the letter in its entirety and you will see that he has something tremendous to put in your life in place of illicit sex. In fact, what he brings us is a new obsession that more than fills the vacuum of our empty, lonely lives; it actually has the power to drive out the evil thoughts and imaginings and sexual lusts that have seemed so overmastering. That "something' is the love of Christ revealed at the cross, the stupendous love revealed for you as a lonely individual. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith," he says (Ephesians 2:8). You have an infinite, eternal inheritance; you are "chosen" in Him "before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight," and in Him you have "forgiveness of sins". That love of Christ is the real thing, of which sexual love is only a faint reflection.
The message of the Cross is God's solution to all sex problems. Sex is good in its place, within marriage and husbands are to "love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her" (Ephesians 5:25). The greater love enriches the lesser, and expels the unworthy, because on the Cross Christ revealed a love that is not selfish. Your savior loves you more than you may have thought! Note this excellent "good news":
The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope- the glorious appearing of our great God and savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:11-14).
Is that word "No!" a difficult word to say? "The grace of God" will teach you how to say it! None of the Enemy's most alluring temptations can stand up against that word which "grace" teaches us to say. After all, 1st Corinthians 1:13; encourages us that "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, bt with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it". And how does "the grace of God" succeed in teaching us backward mortals such a marvelous skill? By providing the dual motivation of an appreciation of how Christ "gave Himself for us", and the delightful anticipation of letting Him "purify for Himself a people" ready to honor Him at His glorious appearing". It works! A living and powerful savior rescues you from that swift river that would sweep you to destruction.
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