June 6

Proverbs 6
A Christian friend of mine is currently writing a blog on “body talk.” Several weeks ago he warned those who were reading his blog that they might be offended by his blog in the upcoming weeks because he was going to talk bluntly about sexuality as it relates to God. He said that some might consider it “bawdy” talk. From his quotes, it is obvious that he is drawing from the works of Pope John Paul II on the theology of the body. The Pope apparently developed the theology over a period of years in a period of weekly talks that he gave in response to the degeneration of marriage in the church and in our cultures. One of the main points that my friend is making is that our parents Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. As such our sexuality was originally very good. It reflected the image of God. While I am not sure how to take some of his ‘bawdy’ talk, I would agree with the one point that our sexuality should reflect His image.
The proverbs are filled with body talk. Today’s chapter is no exception. “Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul.” My generation really pushed the idea of ‘free sex’, sex without commitment. It hasn’t worked. It has destroyed lives. It is destroying our culture. Why? If our sexuality is such a wonderful thing (and it is) what is it about sexual promiscuity that ruins people? It is precisely because our sexuality reflects the image and glory of God that promiscuity and adultery destroy lives. It is precisely because our sexuality reflects the relationship between Christ and the Church that promiscuity and adultery destroy lives.
There is no greater love that exists than what exists between Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There is a passionate, eternal, joy-filled love that is abundant between them, the One God. There is no greater or intense love than that. That love expressed itself in the creation of Man, male and female, in His image. Our passion for and commitment to our spouses is to reflect God’s passion for and commitment to Himself and His passion for and commitment to us. When we walk away from that passion, we are walking away from displaying and declaring His glory, His passion, His commitment. We have essentially slapped the eternal God in the face. We have declared that He is not passionate toward us. We have displayed that He is not committed to us.
When God destroyed the earth in Noah’s flood, His stated reason was, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”(Gen. 6:3) Additionally when the flood was over, He gave Noah a rationale for capital punishment, “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.”(Gen. 9:6) The major problem with violence toward man (male and female) is that it is striking at the image of God! It is degrading His glory! The major problem with sexual promiscuity or adultery is that it is striking at the image of God! It is degrading His glory! In so doing, it destroys your own soul.
Laura and I just celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary. What a joy to know that we can look each other in the eye and say, “I am just as passionate about you; I am just as committed to you, as on that Saturday afternoon on June 4, 1977, when we looked each other in the eye and sang, ‘With this ring I thee wed, and I give to you my life. Mine is yours; yours is mine, and we can live that way forever. With this kiss we will seal that we now are man and wife. Two in one, one in two, that’s the way it’s got to be.’” One of the joys of that 35 year accomplishment is that it reflects God’s glory, not ours. He is the One who empowered us. Our doing was to trust Him for the empowerment, but His is the glory!
But what if one has spoiled one’s life by being promiscuous or by committing adultery? Isn’t it interesting that this book of Proverbs was written by a man that was one of the biggest adulterers of all time (700 wives and 300 concubines)? What’s up with that? It is the glory of our Lord to restore those who repent and believe, no matter how badly they have screwed up. He brings forgiveness and redemption for those who repent and believe! He can restore the marred image! He can make our lives once again reflect His passion and commitment! Wow! What glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john