Sexual sin is a major problem in our society. It is not just a problem for those outside the church. Both those in and out of the church deal with lust, pornography, and sexual temptation. So how do we combat sexual sin?
We need wisdom. Wisdom found in God’s Word. Proverbs promises us we “will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress” when we have wisdom (Prov. 2:16). Wisdom delivers us because it allows us to see the temptress as God sees them; it allows us to see their tactics, true character, and end result.
The Tactics of the Temptress
Sin is appealing, especially sexual sin. The strange woman knows that so she uses her outward beauty, charm, and sensual pleasures to attract us. She flatters us. Promises fun and excitement.
The True Character of the Temptress
Wisdom allows us to put on spiritual spectacles and observe the true character of our temptress. When we do, we see their character doesn’t match their alluring outward beauty.
Proverbs 2:17 reveals that the adulteress woman is not faithful. She is not faithful to men, nor to God. She is a quitter. Someone who jumps from one person to the next. So we shouldn’t be shocked when she leaves us. Especially, if she was willing to break up our relationship.
I am not just picking on woman. Woman too need to be careful. If a man was willing to leave his wife for them, they shouldn’t be shocked when years later he leaves them for another woman. Those who aren’t faithful will not stay.
Our faithfulness starts with our relationship with God. Those who forget God to seek their own pleasures shouldn’t be allowed to capture our heart. If someone refuses to follow God, they are not candidates for lasting relationships.
The End Result of the Temptress
Your sex life may start out in the clouds, but it will end in the grave. We are told,
“Her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life” (Prov. 2:18-19)
Those who take the bait will die. You can’t wander off the path thinking you can come back anytime you like. Once caught in the trap everything is ruined. Your family, your relationships, your career, your reputation all ruined by the temptress.
Not to mention those who continue to follow her, who live in unrepentant sin, will be judged by God and will not gain eternal life. Sexual sin is serious. Hebrews 13:4 says,
“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”
Conclusion
When we struggle with lust, we shouldn’t just pray for deliverance, we should also remember who the temptress is. When we see the temptress as she really is, she shouldn’t be a threat to us. Instead, we should be repulsed when we remember her true character and the consequences of her seduction.
Question for Reflection
- How do you avoid sexual temptation?
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