FACING GIANTS SEXUAL IMMORALITY

“Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4). Sex is not a giant; it is not evil. In fact, it is a God-ordained part of the marriage relationship. The first thing we have on record of God saying to man deals with the sexual relationship (Genesis 1:28). However, sexual immorality is one of the giants in Satan’s army. Notice the latter part of Hebrews 13:4. God will hold fornicators and adulterers accountable for their sin. As we think of facing the giant of sexual immorality, there are three aspects I would like to discuss: fornication, adultery, and homosexuality.

Fornication is defined by Vine as “illicit sexual intercourse.” It is the broader term, compared with adultery, referring to all sexual sin. However, for the sake of this article, I will use it synonymously with premarital sex. Sex is sacred in marriage, but sinful before marriage. You would not know this from looking at our society. For instance, when young adults ages 18-29 were asked if they believed premarital sex to be wrong, only 1 in 4 said they considered it to be wrong. One poll showed 50% of the American population does not believe it is wrong to have a child out of wedlock. Another study states that more than 9 out of 10 adults have engaged in premarital sex. Sex outside of marriage is wrong even if no one finds out, even if no unwanted pregnancy occurs, and even if no one gets a sexually transmitted disease. “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18).

Adultery is sexual activity with someone other than a spouse. As stated earlier, fornication is the broader term. Adultery is the more narrow term, indicating sexual sin where at least one person is married. If someone 100 years from now were to take a sampling of our entertainment (television, magazines, movies, music) and examine them, they would likely come to the conclusion that adultery is commonly accepted in our society. They would not be too far off. While it is still one of the leading causes of divorce, adultery is becoming more and more common. What does the Bible say? Included in the list of those who will not inherit the kingdom of God are adulterers (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Regardless of what man and society say, God says it is a sin.

Homosexuality is sexual activity between members of the same sex. We live in a society where the “gay rights movement” is getting stronger. Recently, a member of the music industry admitted to being homosexual and received praise from many. A 2003 Gallup poll found that six out of teen Americans believe that homosexual relations between consenting adults should be legal and 54% believe homosexuality should be considered an acceptable lifestyle. It has even reached the point where we see Christian people joking about it. “For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due” (Romans 1:26-27).

The time to make a decision in regard to any aspect of sexual immorality is long before the tempting situation arises. I am confident that it helped Joseph that he had already decided that it was a “great wickedness and sin against God” (Genesis 39:9). Be careful of the situations you put yourself in. Understand the power of physical contact. Don’t just feel; use your mind and think. Exercise self control and win your battles against this giant.
--Lamar

FACING GIANTS EVIL COMPANIONS

“Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits’” (1 Corinthians 15:33). It is so easy for us to think that our associations with worldly people will have no effect on us. Perhaps that is why Paul begins the verse with the statement, “Do not be deceived.” If we make it our habit to associate with people with little or no spiritual direction in their lives, they will turn us to their ways of thinking and living. Their influence in our lives is usually gradual, but that makes it no less certain.

There are many admonitions and warnings in the book of Proverbs. “My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent” (Proverbs 1:10). “He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20). “Go from the presence of a foolish man,” (Proverbs 14:7). “Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go, Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul” (Proverbs 22:24-25). “Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them;” (Proverbs 24:1). What is so ironic and sad is that the man God used to pen these warnings allowed the women in his life to turn him from God (1 Kings 11:4).

Some may ask, “Did not Jesus associate with sinners?” Yes, He did. That habit of His life actually got Him in trouble with the self-righteous Pharisees (Luke 5:29-30; 15:1-2). However, His association with them was not for social benefit but for the well-being of their souls. He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). If we are spending our time among evil companions and are not making every effort to convert them, we are asking for trouble. It is also important to notice that His closest companions were like-minded people.

I have heard people say, “I am too strong of a Christian. They are not going to have a negative influence on me.” Keep in mind another admonition of Proverbs: “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). Those with such an attitude also need to remember the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:12, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” It is a very dangerous game and the price (your soul) is of great value. Satan is wise in the ways of the world and he will use any and all of his tricks to pull us away from God, even if it turns out to be the person we thought was our best friend.

As a final word on this subject, I would like to especially warn our young people. This is not exclusively a problem of youth, older Christians must be aware of the dangers also. However, our young people need to be reminded of this danger when choosing friends and especially as they begin dating. The best friend, dating partner, or (eventually) spouse you can have is someone who will help you get to heaven.

Do you choose to associate with evil companions just for the fun of it? Beware of the giant!
--Lamar

FACING GIANTS

In their conquest of Canaan, Israel had to face some giants. They were first encountered when the spies were sent into the land. “There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight” (Numbers 13:33). They were big and probably frightening. However, they did not stop Joshua and the people from securing the promised land. God is faithful (1 Corinthians 10:13), and He had promised a land to the descendants of Abraham (Genesis 12:1). That promise is fulfilled in the book of Joshua, even in the face of the giants. “And at that time Joshua came and cut off the Anakim from the mountains: from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel; Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities. None of the Anakim were left in the land of the children of Israel; they remained only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod. So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had said to Moses; and Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. Then the land rested from war” (Joshua 11:21-23). The Israelites had to face giants in their day.

We face giants today. The Israelites faced giants in physical warfare. Our giants are faced in spiritual warfare. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). This is why Paul instructs us to “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11).

There is a war going on! It is not a battle for oil, or land, or resources, or political freedom. It is a war for spiritual freedom, for the souls of men, women, and children throughout the world. It is a war between good and evil. God is the commander of the armies of righteousness and Satan commands the armies of the wicked. Satan has many giants in his army. They may appear indestructible. It may seem there is no way to defeat them. By ourselves, they are indestructible and undefeatable. With God on our side, they do not stand a chance. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Over the next few weeks, we want to identify some of Satan’s giants we face in everyday Christian life and how we can defeat them.
--Lamar

A PUFF OF SMOKE

“For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). One translation reads that it is “like a puff of smoke visible for a little while and then dissolving into thin air.” We could give various other translations, but the meaning is clear. Life here on earth is brief. It passes quickly. The psalmist writes, “The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10). Even a life of great length is short and uncertain. Life is indeed a puff of smoke that is seen for a little while and then disappears.

As we consider the world in which God has placed us, it is obvious that He intended for us to be joyful. Certainly there are distresses, but these are the exception. Life is to be enjoyed. This is God’s design. His servants are to be the most joyful people in the world. It is also certain that the Lord has a purpose for mankind. We do not exist merely for the sake of existence. Ecclesiastes 12:13 states, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.” Life does have a purpose and that purpose is set forth in God’s Word. Man was made to be a glory to his Maker. We succeed or fail in life depending on our fulfillment of that purpose.

As we remember that life is brief, that it is a puff of smoke that is only seen for a little while, we should also recognize that it is a time of preparation. While we do enjoy life and use it to glorify God, this earthly life is not an end in itself. We must use the time we have on this earth to get ready for something better. Someone has correctly stated, “Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.” When we are looking forward to a trip, when we anticipate enjoying that trip (not so much the trip as the destination), we make preparation. Why would our trip into eternity be any different? If heaven is something we anticipate with joy, we will make preparation to go. It is certain that heaven would not be suit­able for those who make no preparation for it. The truth is that the doors of heaven will be closed to those who will not use their time here in getting ready to go there.

In Luke 12, Jesus tells of a man whose life was obviously a failure. He said: Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.17 “And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’18 “So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.19 ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’20 “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” By worldly standards this man was very successful. He had more than enough material goods. But he made a failure of his life. He forgot that it was just a puff of smoke that would soon vanish. God said He was a fool.

When your brief journey is over; when your soul is required; what will God have to say of you? Will you be called a fool or a wise one? Do not measure your success by the world’s standards. Aim for a life that joyfully fulfills its God-given purpose by preparing for the life that follows.
--Lamar