Gates of the City

That’s what God’s word tells us.  But many today aren’t “fleeing” from it, rather they are for all intents and purposes running madly to it. For some insane reason people are literally racing to expose and open themselves up to everything and anything sexual, as if somehow it is going to be the answer to their loneliness or boredom or their oppressive sense of rejection and insignificance. It has become so maddening that even some so called friends frequently engage in sexual immorality and openly make and accept challenges to do the most profane things with as many partners to see who can outperform the other. This is not only madness; this is as close as a society can get to mass suicide. Yes, you read it right, mass suicide.

Perhaps it is because people are just so willfully ignorant of God’s word or so insecure having grown up in such a self-centered generation where almost everyone seems infatuated with seeking their own gratification at the expense of whoever and/or whatever. The thought of it almost no longer shocks some people that there are those who are literally drugging their supposed “dates” and then raping them and then allowing others to rape them as well. These human beasts are literally doing this openly amongst their select group of perverted friends in a celebratory fashion. Packs of humanity who outwardly look like everyone else while actively preying sexually on others, and we’re not even off the subject of “straight sex!” All the while there are others in more acceptable positions that have established themselves as “respectable” in the community who are so slavishly engrossed in their own sexual decadence that they cannot but run to every opportunity of fornication regardless the risk to their families and careers . . . all for a moment of unbridled indulgence that promises only to send their world crashing to the ground all around them while the whole world sees and continues to be none the wiser. Do you really think these people started off this enslaved and wicked?

If this is touching you then please listen, God’s word tells us as plainly as it can, “Can a man carry fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk upon hot coals and his feet not be scorched? So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; none who touches her will go unpunished.” Man cannot indulge in sexual sins and not do serious harm to his own self, physically (STD’s), emotionally and spiritually.

It is alarming to see just how many people from religious leaders to politicians, friends and family members foolishly allow their lives to be engulfed by this sin that are severely impacted and nearly destroyed by the certain consequences which always follow. Lives forever changed, opportunities lost and regret that will be carried to the grave. Look at the undeniable damage to society, the incredible unwed mother rate in the America, four out of ten children born out of wedlock, up to 72% in some ethnic groups, the staggering growing fifty million-plus aborted lives of innocence all sacrificed on the altars of self worship, personal convenience and self gratification. When a society gets to this place of openly rejecting the sanctity of their own bodies, of marriage and human life, blatant worship of the creature instead of their Creator, how can a holy and just God allow such abounding wickedness go unpunished? Where is the terror of the Lord? How is it there is no fear? Do they really think God does not see? Oh, He does . . . God does see.

The word of God tells us to “FLEE!” That means we are to recognize sexual immorality and fornication as an enemy that cannot be successfully engaged or defeated by any other means than removing ourselves from its seductive poison as fast as possible before it defiles our hearts and minds. We must flee before we stupidly believe the lie that we can eat and will not die – lest we imprudently sell ourselves to it as slaves unto death. Our country’s morality has fallen so far from godliness that there appears to be no escaping the voracious nature of sexual immorality today. Even if you want to be celibate you are stalked as a prize waiting to be conquered, seized upon and then discarded as no longer desirable or pure. How is it so many people are so blind, so unaware of the tragedies they are heaping into their own lives and afflicting upon others even for generations to come? Perhaps, because it has become so vogue and acceptable to reject God and deny Him any place in our homes, schools, courthouses and personal lives.  Yet even the few who will sheepishly acknowledge a God do so only in the most dismissing fashion, as if He is only a concept or a God who really doesn’t care. Nothing can be further from the truth.

We have made two major blunders in our society, first, we have either forgotten or rejected that we were created in the image of God. Secondly, if and when society acknowledges there is a God, they perceive such a “god” to be like unto their own selves. People, children, friends, please hear me out, God created man in His own image for His own purpose and glory. God cares about us because we exist primarily for fellowship with Him. Not only for fellowship, but a glorious union whereby God intended to indwell us with His spirit and unite it with our very own. This is humanity’s purpose for existing; this is your purpose for existing. How often the cry is heard, “What is my purpose, why am I here?” The world is running towards sexual immorality as if it were the answer to that void which cannot be filled by any other than the One who created it for His own indwelling. People, God is not like us; He cannot and will not ignore such sin and/or excuse it.

God created man in His own image, have you ever really tried to wrap your mind around that and understand it, “us” in His own image? We need to cry out to God diligently if we are to ever even began to laid hold of this glorious truth. Because that “image” transcends a head, a torso, two arms and two legs; it is a soul and an eternal spirit created for holiness as well. God created man in His own image so that we could have all the means whereby we could be reflections of His glory and understand God’s heart and desire for His people, even the great affection where with He loves us, and oh yes, yes, how He loves us. God made Adam to be a righteous and holy being, but God also revealed it wasn’t good that man should be alone, so God from man created woman to be for man. This infinite wisdom and royal design of God for man and woman was flawless for the woman was made the perfect mate for man, so much so that man could literally come into her and impart his seed and miraculously bring forth more life.  This is why men are told to love their wives as Christ loved the Church and women to honor and submit to their husbands.

The design of male and female was created wholly so mankind could adorn the gospel of God our Savor and live a reality whereby we might grasp the greater truth that God wants to come in us and impart His seed of life to us, that we may live the very life of joy and peace that He earnestly desires all to have through Him and with Him. It was for this very cause that God so loved the world that He gave us the promised Son which came down and clothed Himself in the frailty of our humanity with the intention that He would free fallen humanity who love and rejoice in this truth from the sins that have separated us from Him. Jesus willfully shed His redemptive blood to satisfy the unrelenting demand of death that our sins brought against us by providing the only acceptable, pure and holy blood atonement whereby He can wash the guiltiest of sinners clean. All this wonderful and necessary atoning and cleansing work of Calvary’s cross was planned in heaven from eternity’s past and executed here on earth so the Spirit of the Holy One can come in us and dwell in these fleshly temples made clean again by God alone.

Look again at God’s word for you,

Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1Co 6:18-20)

Take heed, for to thoughtlessly give ourselves to sexually immorality is to not only commit sin against God, but against ourselves as well. Our bodies were intended to be temples for God’s Spirit, a place for His dwelling in united harmony with our own spirits. This is why Jesus paid the price of your redemption, that you can be forgiven and washed clean, indwelt and empowered to be godly, made holy and glorifying God “in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Please, for the love of God, because of the mercy He is desiring to show unto the repentant, because of the many exceedingly wonderful and great promises He has for those who will come to Him and diligently seek Him, please, please, flee sexual immorality and run to God. All who seek will find and all who call upon Him will He answer . . . while there is still time, turn away from sin and come back to your Father who loves you.

May you find His peace.