Amy (not her real name) is 19 years young. Unsuspectingly I asked how her week had been. Her teary reply was: “I have just lived the worst week of my life”. Why? What happened?
John (not his real name ) with whom she had previously been in a “domestic relationship” had been riding his motorbike to tell her he now had enough money to buy a car when, on a less-travelled country road he cut the corner, collided with an oncoming vehicle and was killed instantly.
He was found face down in a nearby paddock. She had visited the scene. There was “blood everywhere”, and where the paramedics had rolled him over she could see their footprints in the blood stained grass.
A divine warning
Do not be a fool - why die before your time? (Ecclesiastes chapter 7 verse 17). Why die before the time of your natural death? It wasn’t necessary to cut the curve where vision was limited.
Many avoidable road accidents are caused by speed, youthful inexperience, alcohol and drugs, or serious injury/death due to participation in risky sports such as riding fast downhill along rough winding narrow bush trails on cross-country bikes.
Is it worth risking dire consequences, maybe ‘cheating death’ but suffering severe injury like being wheelchair-bound or receiving other life-limiting lifelong catastrophic medical condition(s) with all joy and youthful exuberance gone forever, replaced by loneliness and pain?
Error upon error
Apparently having had a rough start in life Amy now lives with her new boyfriend, and at her tender age has already distanced herself at least two young men away from the never-to-be-regained precious sign of innocence, demureness and purity, vis virginity; in this era of so-called enlightenment and sophistication an old-fashioned, scoffed at (and largely ignored) virtue.
But God says: The body is not meant for sexual immorality but for the LORD. All other sins a man commits are outside his body but he who sins sexually sins ‘against’ his own body. (1 Corinthians chapter 6 verses 13&18). His grace: teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives. (Titus chapter 2 verse 12).
Lifestyle pleasing to God
He tells us to: make ‘every’ effort to add to our faith, virtue. (2 Peter chapter 1 verse 5), defined as: behaviour showing high moral standards. It follows on from, and should be a consequence of faith.
Lamentably, the loose sexual values of our society have even seeped into the Christian church. ‘We’re getting married anyway so what’s the problem?’ Within God’s list in the ‘2 Peter passage’ above are “self-control” and “Godliness”, both inconsistent with pre-marital sex.
Shortly before His horrific death Jesus said to the religious leaders: The one who sent Me…has not left Me alone for I always ‘do’ what pleases Him. (John chapter 8 verse 29). Good enough for Jesus: must be good enough for us. So what behaviour pleases God?
Avoid sexual immorality…control your own body in a way that is holy and honourable, not in passionate lust like those who do not know God…He called us to…live a holy life. He who rejects this instruction…rejects God. (1 Thessalonians chapter 4 verses 3-5 & 7/8).
Us oldies make mistakes too…
in this adventure called ‘life’. Perhaps some of ours may simply not be quite so noticeable. And if we point the finger at someone there are always three fingers pointing backwards.
It’s true that the world Amy and my not much younger grandchildren are growing up in, is vastly different from the uncomplicated one we probably experienced at their age. More pressures exist in this sex-saturated drug and alcohol-fuelled violent modern world. Some young people doubt they will ever have a good future to look forward to.
But He: is the same yesterday, today and forever, and His standards do not change from generation to generation nor from society to society. He told us we will “reap what we sow”.
Another divine warning
If we ‘sow our wild oats’ to please ourselves God warns that “from” that nature we will “reap destruction”, not necessarily meaning the finality of death but that generally speaking things may go wrong for us. Our health, safety, finances or relationships may go pear shaped. Amy appears to be reaping from the wrong direction.
But if we try to sow to please God’s Spirit then “from” Him we will reap both eternity in paradise with Him and so much more of substantial good beforehand (Galatians chapter 6 verse 8), even if we sow lousily. He promises the refreshing effect of lightening our load by showing us how to bear it, or better still removing it altogether.
The very good news is that…
If we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from ‘all’ unrighteousness. (1 John chapter 1 verse 9). Nothing is beyond His ability and willingness to forgive, cleanse and forget “If we confess” to Him. A new beginning.
And if we try to follow Him, equally refreshingly we can: ‘forget’ what is behind and strain towards what is ahead…[for] God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus. (Philippians chapter 3 verses 13/14).
The best course
When I innocently asked Amy about her week and she told me about John, I formed the strong impression that they were completely clueless about all of the above. Tragically he died before his time whilst she continues to reap poorly.
It’s infinitely better to die in His time and then be with Him for the rest of time.
Gavin Lawrie is a retired Barrister and Solicitor from Tweed Heads NSW Australia and author of the book: 'THE EVIDENCE OF EVOLUTION: Uncovering The Faulty Science Of Dawkins' Attack On Creationism'. He is married to Jan with two adult children and they are grandparents.
Gavin Lawrie's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/gavin-lawrie.html