We live in a time when divorce is often used as a stepping stone, to hop from one marriage bed to another. Some married folk simply have "affairs," and enjoy the sexual favors of others while remaining married to their spouse.
Our "enlightened" society has all of the answers, and the "situation ethics" to justify almost any form of carnal relationship. Even many church people, including preachers, have found ways to justify the concept that sex is an activity that should not be restricted to a marriage relationship.
If the SINS of adultery and fornication are not sanctioned, they are almost always "tolerated" as a type of conduct which is too strong to resist. At worst, people say God will simply WINK when such sexual activity occurs, as He understands how strong sexual desire can be.
GIVE ME A BREAK, AND READ THE BOOK!!! If anything, the "swingers" ought to be shaking in their boots. Read these verses, and understand how God really feels about these things. Remember, the HERO of this story WAS NOT even a believer. Yet, he knew that ADULTERY was a sure shot way to the grave...
GENESIS CHAPTER 20:1-11
1 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and
dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.
2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and
Abimelech
king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him,
Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast
taken;
for she is a man's wife.
4 But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt
thou
slay also a righteous nation?
5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself
said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency
of my
hands have I done this.
6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst
this in
the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning
against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and
he
shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her
not,
know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
8 Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his
servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men
were
sore afraid.
9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou
done
unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on
me and
on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought
not
to be done.
10 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou
hast
done this thing?
11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is
not in
this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.
COMMENTARY:
VERSE 1 No real comments, this is the beginning of the journey.
VERSE 2 Abraham's wife looked great, and he KNEW that the king of this "heathen" land would want her. He called Sarah his SISTER, as he also KNEW that he would be killed if he tried to stop the king from taking his wife away. (actually, Sarah WAS also Abraham's half-sister) He just took the easy way out for HIM, by not telling the king that they were man and wife.
VERSE 3 Even though Abraham let Sarah down, God did not. He used the dream to let the king know what was REALLY going on! Even though the king was not a "true believer," it did not change the fact that the penalty for adultery was DEATH. (think what you may, but God has not changed the penalty for SIN)
VERSE 4 & 5 The king had a partial defense, as he did not know that the beautiful Sarah was a married woman. He pointed out that he had believed a BELIEVER, and accepted his word that she was but his sister. Also, he reminded God that he had not TOUCHED her. (yet) Like most people, Abraham had told a half-truth in a tough situation.
VERSE 6 The king had been misled, and God made sure the king did not sexually violate Sarah. As bad as this situation was, you can see the mercy and the protection that God provides for everyone who tries to do what is right.
VERSE 7 God told the king to "back up" his claims of innocence, by returning Sarah to Abraham. He also promises DEATH, if the king commits adultery with her. (along with the death of the rest of his family)
VERSE 8 This king was wiser than most, as he did not attempt to hide the facts from those around him. They became AFRAID! If you are dealing with sex in a CASUAL & RECREATIONAL manner, you had better become FEARFUL of what will happen to you. You are also putting your family at risk, and you are setting a terrible example before those you love.
VERSE 9-11 Finally, the king asks Abraham why he had endangered the king, his family, and his whole kingdom? Abraham said that he knew that the kingdom was made up of unbelievers, and Abraham feared he would die attempting to protect his wife from the king. I believe Abraham did found out the fear of the Lord was present in the kingdom! Too bad Abraham did not have the faith to believe God to protect himself and Sarah, without using half-truths to worm his way out of a bad situation.
If you believe God is not concerned with sexual sins, YOU HAD BETTER READ THIS!
DEUTERONOMY CHAPTER 25
11 When men strive together one with another, and the wife of the
one
draweth near for to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that
smiteth him, and putteth forth her hand, and taketh him by the
secrets:
12 Then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye shall not pity her.
Do you understand how serious this type of sin is? This woman ACCIDENTLY touched another man's PRIVATE PARTS while attempting to get her husband away from him in a fight. The word of God says to CUT OFF HER HAND, and NOT TO PITY HER.
People, if God commands such a punishment for a LOYAL wife, how terrible must be the punishment for a WICKED wife who is hell-bent to commit adultery. (and touch private parts on purpose) If this is the punishment for a wife, how much WORSE is such a sin when committed by a husband? (the head of the family)
You young people who are unmarried had better consider the COST, before you give in to your carnal desires and commit the sin of fornication. There is a God, and He is aware of what you do in secret. Even in this world, there is a price to pay. Pure virgin girls become used merchandise, babies are born without a Godly family environment, and disease rots away young bodies that should be healthy and pure. To lose a hand, would really be the EASY OUT in the long run.
Don't be mislead by worldly attitudes, and the "casual sex" mind- set of society. Sexual perversion is destroying our land, and it is insuring a terrible PAY BACK for those who live without regard to God's laws. The awful crime of ABORTION, is often the direct result of people having sex without any consideration for the life the sexual act can create. Your pleasure, should not have priority over the life of the unborn child.
SALVATION is the cure for sin, and the power of sin over your life. If you remain UNSAVED, you will pay for EVERYTHING you have done in your lifetime! Can you imagine the terror you face, as a person who has refused the precious gift of TOTAL FORGIVENESS which Jesus offers you? Even sexual sins are minor sins, as compared to the sin of REJECTING Jesus Christ!
People who live ungodly lives do so, because that are ALIENS to the household of faith. By nature, they are drawn to the wicked practices of humanism, and other flawed ethics of the lost. When you accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, you will begin to be directed by His Holy Spirit. Your lifestyle, your standards, and your actions, will change. If you do nothing, you choose hell by default. Sex does not need to be impure, God created sex to be a joyful experience for a man and a woman within the context of a marriage relationship. All sex has a measure of pleasure, but sex without shame or guilt can usher you into a realm of pleasure beyond measure...
Charles Gleason
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