The world which denies God also infinitely reduces the value God has placed upon human life. This is revealed in the way we speak. Saying someone is a "product of their environment" is not true of a person created in the image of God. It minimises the power of God to transform people by the Holy Spirit. Many today see humans as primarily sexual beings, but God created men and women to be defined by something far more profound than passing carnal appetites. The Bible reveals human beings to be primarily spiritual beings who live in a human body for a short period of time on earth. Since man has been created in the image of God we possess eternal souls which are of great importance to God and men as well.
Genesis 1:27-28 reads, "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." Because God maintains dominion over all things He has the authority and power to delegate authority over the earth and creatures He has created to men. God has blessed mankind abundantly, providing us a habitable planet which suits our every need. For the most part men have not praised God according to the blessing He has graciously provided. We have abused our privilege, neglected to acknowledge or thank God, and have praised the works of our hands. We have valued the gifts over the Giver. We have defined ourselves according to our will and desires rather than according to God's righteous designs.
A friend of mine told me a story about the kids at the school where he teaches scripture. He had brought back bags of candy from the United States to bless the kids in his class. Upon arriving at the school after a break, he was surprised to find wrappers and candy still in plastic around the campus. He went to the classroom and discovered all the candy he had brought to bless others was missing. Someone had stolen the treasured candy and wasted it. It cost them nothing. Stolen bread is sweet, and sweeter still are Jolly Ranchers. Candy meant for students in the classroom had been stolen, wasted, and was gone for good, eaten and thrown around by people who did not value it as they should have. Sweet candy had become dirty and thus good for nothing.
This story made me sad. But it also made me think about how God has blessed humans with many pleasures we can enjoy: eating, drinking, sport, and sex are just a few of them. Sex in this world has become like those sweet candies. The Jolly Ranchers were meant for the classroom and sexual activity was intended by God to be enjoyed within the context of marriage God ordained between one man and one woman. Yet man has chosen to feed greedily upon this gift without God's approval and it has become an idol for many. Clean candy was wasted on the ground because of theft, and people rob themselves of God's blessing through fornication in the vain pursuit of satisfying their lusts. My friend had no idea who stole or ate the candy he supplied, but God knows the hearts and actions of all. God is the Judge who will see justice carried out for sins even carried out in secret. If you think no one is hurt through infidelity or fornication, think again. The one who does this works to destroy himself (1 Corinthians 6:18). God created sex to be clean and pure in the correct context.
Whether you are married or single, hear the wisdom of God concerning sexual purity written in Proverbs 5:15-23: "Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well. 16 Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets? 17 Let them be only your own, and not for strangers with you. 18 Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth. 19 As a loving deer and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy you at all times; and always be enraptured with her love. 20 For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman, and be embraced in the arms of a seductress? 21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He ponders all his paths. 22 His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin. 23 He shall die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray." Only Jesus can break the bonds of sin. He is the One who gives us new beginnings and a fresh clean start. Hebrews 13:4 tells us, "Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge." Praise the LORD for His good gifts and for supplying all our needs. We don't need candy to survive, and we don't need sex for a fulfilling or complete life either. But praise God for the good clean gifts He gives!
Genesis 1:27-28 reads, "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." Because God maintains dominion over all things He has the authority and power to delegate authority over the earth and creatures He has created to men. God has blessed mankind abundantly, providing us a habitable planet which suits our every need. For the most part men have not praised God according to the blessing He has graciously provided. We have abused our privilege, neglected to acknowledge or thank God, and have praised the works of our hands. We have valued the gifts over the Giver. We have defined ourselves according to our will and desires rather than according to God's righteous designs.
A friend of mine told me a story about the kids at the school where he teaches scripture. He had brought back bags of candy from the United States to bless the kids in his class. Upon arriving at the school after a break, he was surprised to find wrappers and candy still in plastic around the campus. He went to the classroom and discovered all the candy he had brought to bless others was missing. Someone had stolen the treasured candy and wasted it. It cost them nothing. Stolen bread is sweet, and sweeter still are Jolly Ranchers. Candy meant for students in the classroom had been stolen, wasted, and was gone for good, eaten and thrown around by people who did not value it as they should have. Sweet candy had become dirty and thus good for nothing.
This story made me sad. But it also made me think about how God has blessed humans with many pleasures we can enjoy: eating, drinking, sport, and sex are just a few of them. Sex in this world has become like those sweet candies. The Jolly Ranchers were meant for the classroom and sexual activity was intended by God to be enjoyed within the context of marriage God ordained between one man and one woman. Yet man has chosen to feed greedily upon this gift without God's approval and it has become an idol for many. Clean candy was wasted on the ground because of theft, and people rob themselves of God's blessing through fornication in the vain pursuit of satisfying their lusts. My friend had no idea who stole or ate the candy he supplied, but God knows the hearts and actions of all. God is the Judge who will see justice carried out for sins even carried out in secret. If you think no one is hurt through infidelity or fornication, think again. The one who does this works to destroy himself (1 Corinthians 6:18). God created sex to be clean and pure in the correct context.
Whether you are married or single, hear the wisdom of God concerning sexual purity written in Proverbs 5:15-23: "Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well. 16 Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets? 17 Let them be only your own, and not for strangers with you. 18 Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth. 19 As a loving deer and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy you at all times; and always be enraptured with her love. 20 For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman, and be embraced in the arms of a seductress? 21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He ponders all his paths. 22 His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin. 23 He shall die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray." Only Jesus can break the bonds of sin. He is the One who gives us new beginnings and a fresh clean start. Hebrews 13:4 tells us, "Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge." Praise the LORD for His good gifts and for supplying all our needs. We don't need candy to survive, and we don't need sex for a fulfilling or complete life either. But praise God for the good clean gifts He gives!
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