So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)
Flee from youthful passions - sexual immorality.
This is hardly the case in society’s message - there seem to be a million reasons for couples to have sexual relationships, sexual activities before marriage. This point of view wants you to know that sexual activities have no consequences and no boundaries.
But this is not the case:
When you take sexual activities outside of the marriage covenant, you are at least damaging four people at once:
- Yourself
- Your current partner
- Your future spouse
- Your current partner’s future spouse
You rob these four people of their intimacy with their spouse, the significance of their marriage, and their consummation of their marriage.
This is why God does not allow for sex before marriage - to protect relationships.
So one must use serious measures for this serious matter.
But to think that rules and bottom lines can guard a couple against temptations and sexual activities are foolish. Because then the question becomes:
How far is too far? How far can I possibly go to please myself and my partner without sinning?
The human nature is to tempt the bottom line and avoid rules. The rules and bottom lines then become channels for temptation and disobedience.
The approach then is to set goal lines, achievements. And ask the question:
How far can I go - How far can I possibly go to please God, honour my future spouse and my current partner?
Some examples of these achievements (that have been done and achieved by real-life couples):
- No kissing each other on the lips until marriage
- No hanging out alone at each other’s home
- No intimate physical contact
- No traveling overnight alone as a couple
How far will you go - to please God, honour your future spouse and your current partner?
