A Recurring Topic

Jeremiah 17.5-8 is a wonderful passage found in today’s OT reading describing the difference between trusting in human effort versus trusting in the Lord. We would do well to return often to these words striving to better understand them each and every day we live.

Verse 9 of Jeremiah 17 is also one to be remembered: “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” I offer no contest to these words. I realize that unless the Spirit of God is leading me, I am in a dangerous situation.

Jeremiah 18 offers an interesting perspective on who’s the boss. Once again, we do very well to understand that we do not control anything. We are merely clay in the hands of the potter (God). I know this presents a problem to a lot of people, but really, it is a better way to live and think. God is in control.

I Thessalonians 4.3: “God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.” Since this has been a recurring topic, I want to explore it a bit… Is sex sin? Here’s another question: If sexual intercourse is God’s designed way to procreate our human race, then why is so much ‘sin’ attached to it (the ‘sex’ part) – why is something so dangerous (sexual sin) in such close proximity to God’s very will (to procreate)?

Sex and procreation are realities. Sexual arousal is a built-in human feature the basest purpose of which is procreation. While procreation depends almost entirely on sexual arousal, sexual arousal, on the other hand, is neither dependent on procreation, nor is it taken away once the procreation quota (whatever that is!) is met. For this reason, God went to great lengths to ‘OK’ sex in marriage just for the ‘sex’ of it alone (see 1 Corinthians 7).

I personally believe the reason divorce rates are as high or higher in Christian marriages than non-Christian marriages could quite possibly be linked (at least in part) to this very subject. The great tragedy is that so many Christians have erroneously believed that anything sensual – anything that arouses deep-seated sexual energy – anything that even remotely hints of unleashed passion, is sin. But, according to Paul’s writings back in 1 Corinthians, that is just not the way it should be.

Men and women are going to be aroused sexually and marriage is the setting in which sexual passion may properly run its full course. Sexual passion is here to stay, however this passion satisfied outside of the marriage relationship is sin. That is precisely why Paul strictly forbids spouses withholding on each other sexually without mutual consent.

How do you avoid sexual sin? By abstaining from sex? NO! Avoid sexual sin by fulfilling the climax of sexual passion in the marriage relationship!

God, I don’t want to come across as a sex-crazed pervert. I just want to know that You have a plan for us all that works and prevents us from being distracted and sidetracked from Your perfect will for our lives.