Monday, February 9, 2009

The Worlds View of Love

The world makes its view of love clear all over TV and in most movies, right? It’s the sappy romance that ends in an intimate embrace and fading to black leaving your mind to wander… You know what I’m talking about: SEX. The movies make sex seem so romantic and lovey dovey and that everyone is doing it and that it’s a normal part of a relationship. Well, if you’re married, it is. Outside of marriage, it’s a recipe for heart break, depression and suicide.

Here’s what God says about sex: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is you abstain from sexual immorality.”- 1 Thess. 4:3 (NASB) He doesn’t make these rules for nothing, he knows that sex leads you down a road that is not his and his warning are all over the place in the Bible.

Another thing that God also knows (considering that he knows everything) is that temptation will always be there, trying to knock you to the ground. Luke 21:36 says this “Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” God is saying right there is that we need to be on the look-out for situations that are going to tempt us and cause us to fall. He is warning us that it’s going to be out there and that through the gift of prayer, God is going to give us a hand to leap over those obstacles.

With that, it’s our job to use self-control to not just give into that temptation. That’s the whole idea of God giving us free-will, so that we can choose between right and wrong. God says in Proverbs 25:28 “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.” We have got to be trying to fight temptation or God is going to recognize that we’re the world’s children wearing a sheep’s mask.

God isn’t going to condemn you to Hell if you fall from Him. He’s waiting to see you run back to Him and turn from the ways of the world. You’re His child and he just wants to see the best for you. Romans 8:1 tells us this: “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus.” If you are truly in Christ, God will not condemn you for sinning if you are in Christ because “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” and created us that way.

Calling out to God for help is shown in Psalm 51:10-15. (Listen close now) It goes like this: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (That’s our call out to the Lord) Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore in me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Asking for help) Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing your righteousness. (Wanting to do God’s will) O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. (I want to praise You for what you have done for me).”

Falling away is easy, but running back to Jesus takes courage and A LOT of strength. In welcoming God into your life, you welcomed many problems and this is just one of them. God’s love is much better.

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