There are many awful ways that the gift of sexuality can be perverted and turned into something degrading and shameful. But the bottom line is that the only place where sexual activity is acceptable is between a man and a woman who are married to each other. As hard as it may seem, sexual abstinence is the requirement for anyone who is not married. And for married couples, sexual attention can be directed only toward your spouse.
Harder than these restrictions are the costs of sexual misbehavior. Guilt. Shame. Abuse. Disease. Broken marriages. Even criminal charges.
God loves us and wants to preserve us from such suffering. His prescriptions of sexual abstinence before marriage and of fidelity within marriage protect us from harm and at the same time offer married couples the freedom and enjoyment of sex as it was meant to be. Most of all, they show the way to holiness in relation to that important part of our life known as sexuality.
We are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God.
You may find yourself saying, “But I just can’t! I’ve tried and I can’t stop my compulsive immorality.” You are right. You can’t stop sinning in this way—on your own. It takes the supernatural intervention of God. And He is glad to give that intervention if you will ask for His help.
Purity is a beautiful thing. Its blessings exceed any brief pleasure that sexual immorality might offer. We pray that you will take God’s hand and let Him lead you into purity.
[The above article is an extract from Chapter 14 of Soul Prescription by Bill Bright and Henry Brandt.]