All across America we hear the cry to practice "safe sex." In regard to illicit drugs, we hear: "Just say No!" But, in matters of sex, the implication is made: "Fornicate at will! Don't get caught!" Sexual looseness is the order of the day. What a shame. Even our young children are being taught "safe sex."
Promiscuity is glamorized on the movie screen, on the television, in literature, and on records and tapes. It is made to appear mysterious, enchanting, and alluring.
It is high time for America to awaken. Where did anyone get the idea that fornication is safe sex? God calls it sin. Hear Him! "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, sedition, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal. 5:19-21). The very first words are adultery and fornication. How could any claim "safe sex," when God says that those who practice such shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Jesus said, "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul" (Matt. 16:26)?
The emphasis of much of the sex education our teenagers receive is designed to teach "how to" without suffering the undesirable consequences. Birth control is taught instead of self-restraint. Our children need to be taught that "the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord is for the body" (I Cor. 6:13). They need to be admonished to "flee fornication" and made to understand that "every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body" (I Cor. 6:18). It should be obvious that sexual relations outside of marriage is a misuse and abuse of God's intended purpose for sex. "Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: but fornicators and adulterers God will judge" (Heb. 13:4 ASV).
Paul wrote to the church at Colosse saying, "Mortify, therefore, your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry" (Col. 3:5). These things need to be taught to our young people: first, in the home.
Fornication is not safe sex. It is not safe for one's reputation, peace of mind or respect by his loved ones. It often causes divorce, loss of employment, and broken hearts. It leads to illegitimacy and untold human misery. The burden to taxpayers to support children to single mothers, is staggering.
But, the most sobering and deadly factor of all is: "They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God"(Gal. 5:21).
What would you give in exchange for your soul? Fornicators will get caught-- usually in this life, and certainly at the judgment.
"If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Pet. 4:11).
Don H. Noblin
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