Teenage boys, especially popular ones with bad reputations
to uphold, think they can take liberties. I think they believe it’s a privilege
that comes with the sports letter, I’m not sure. But this young man certainly
thought he could cross the line.
It all started so simple: first a kiss, then the arm around
the neck, then…oh brother! ALARM! ALARM! ALARM! Pictures of that pregnant girl flashed
through my mind at an shocking rate! Long forgotten Bible verses about purity
and coming to your marriage as a virgin were appearing in big, bold, red
letters across my closed eyes. “STOP!” I screamed. “Get your hands off me!”
I thought he was going to fall back in horror and wonder
what had happened. Instead, this pompous guy that I had upheld in such high regard
just snickered and said, “I knew it. I knew you were one of those
goody-two-shoes.”
Oh, thank you Jesus!
Bless you LORD! AH!!! my brain screamed.
Where’s my Dad! I need a good, honest man to give me a hug right now.
The hunk took me home and I never heard from him again. My
so-called passion to date him went down the drain with that little scenario but
the scene never left me.
Today when I speak to young friends or youth groups, I tell
this story to remind them that it can happen in a moment of passion. It’s not
love, it’s passion, hormones, young naiveté, whatever you want to call it—it’s
not love. That’s when you need to put on the brakes, step back, and think about
tomorrow. What will I feel like tomorrow?
God put some pretty definite boundaries on this issue for
anyone who knows Him as their Savior.
Ephesians 5:1-33 English Standard Version
(ESV)
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved
children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ
loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and
sacrifice to God. 3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or
covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among
saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor
foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let
there be thanksgiving. 5 For
you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure,
or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of
Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because
of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of
disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become
partners with them; 8 for at one time you
were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light9 (for the fruit of
light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try
to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in
the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful
even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But
when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for
anything that becomes visible is light.
With
God there is no gray area where sexual impurity is concerned. Everything is
really clear in Scripture about this issue. Can He forgive, yes, but in love God tells us it is sin.
God
gives you a gift when you are born; it’s called purity. It’s a gift that’s
given to boys and girls alike. That gift is exceptional, worth more than a
million diamonds; if you chip away at it and give little pieces out to whoever
asks you are ruining the best gift you ever got. Coming to the marriage bed with
a busted gift is not God’s plan for any young person.
So
why did I write this? To scare you, no. To warn you, definitely. To prepare
you, yes.
Encourage
your young loved ones to make the decision now to not get involved in sex before
marriage. Talk to them openly about the ramifications beyond that moment of
passion. Urge them to steer clear of any and all times and places where they
are tempted. Does that mean saying “No” sometimes? Yes, it does. Does that mean
missing out on some opportunities you believe you will simply die if you don’t
get to go to? Yes, it does.
Think
beyond today. Think of tomorrow. Your purity is a gift from God.
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