THE SILVER BULLET TO SEXUAL PURITY
Years ago, I was playing racquetball with a college friend in Gregory Gym at UT Austin. An attractive girl in shorts was watching us from above. My friend and I couldn’t help but notice her. About halfway through the game, he said to me, “I am not so sure that keeping my mind on things above is a good course of action right now.” We had a big laugh together.
That true story illustrates the struggle so many of us have with the pull of lust, impure thoughts and impure actions. I talk to people every week who seem to be able to walk in victory in other sin areas, but victory over lust and sexual temptation is a much tougher battle. Is there a silver bullet out there that can help us overcome this great temptation?
THE RETURN OF THE LORD
Did you know that the Lord wants us to live EVERY DAY as if this is the day Jesus returns for His bride? Adrian Rogers used to say, “We ought to live as if Jesus died yesterday, rose this morning, and is coming back tonight.” If you and I keep the death, burial, resurrection and return of Christ close to your heart, it causes us to live life differently, and it gives extra power in saying no to the strongest of temptations.
In 1 John 3:2-3, we read these words: “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”
Surely if you and I really believed that Jesus would return at any moment, we would have the fear of the Lord in spades and would be able to follow Joseph’s example. When that man of God was tempted with sexual sin, he got himself out of there. He just saturated the place with his absence (see Genesis 39:12). He remained pure and true to God.
Will you fix your hope on Christ’s imminent return? The Bible promises that this will help keep you pure. John says, “And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming” (1 John 2:28). May you and I have great confidence when the Lord returns, knowing that we have been abiding in Him and obeying His commands.
Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries
