For the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)
Let us face the facts. The awful monsters—drugs, alcohol, and immorality—are threatening and destroying that which God created noble and good. Like the tentacles of a mighty octopus, they grasp and draw both young and old into their embrace.
An epidemic of huge proportions is among today’s society. The curse of drugs, alcohol, and immorality has left many people adrift without an anchor, headed for eternal destruction. People are readily influenced by their peers as well as by the media, magazines, newspapers, and television advertisements regarding these vices. The mind is assailed to the point where it is in a whirlpool of confusion and frustration, resulting in spiritual and physical deterioration.
Who should bear the blame for such disgraceful moral behavior? The younger generation? Not necessarily. By their own ungodly living, many parents have sanctioned the sins in which the younger generation indulges. Fathers and mothers are unaware that they are introducing their children to a drunkard’s and drug addict’s doom by failing to check their corrupt impulses. God’s moral principles have been carelessly disregarded. A mighty cry should ascend to Heaven. How can we save ourselves and our children?
Our society cannot produce the quality of citizens that are needed when drinking and drug use are tolerated and encouraged through the laxity of parents, teachers, and professors. The use of alcohol is a great corrupter of public morals—destroying judgment, character, and life. It contributes to the wrecking and dividing of the home, one of God’s holy institutions for the blessing of mankind.
Added to the menace of alcohol is the increasing use of illicit drugs. The bad effects of these drugs far outweigh any so-called benefits. The use of drugs can cause poor judgment and mental derangement. Drug users admit it is a death trap—mentally, physically and spiritually. Irreparable brain damage, murder, and suicide are often the tragic consequences of these indulgences.
People, because of their inherent sin, readily follow the tendencies and passions that Satan has designed. In this state, the flesh seeks unrestricted fulfillment. Sexual immorality does not quench the fire of lust—it fuels it. Illicit sexual activity is no more a cure for lust than whiskey is a treatment for alcoholism. The truth is that we need to deal with our lust. The soul—that part that lives on in eternity—when reaching out for God’s salvation, seeks to respect his laws.
Fornication, adultery, homosexuality, and sexual contact with animals are forbidden by the Word of God (Leviticus 18:23; Galatians 5:19-21). Immorality brings pain, heartbreak, wretchedness, guilt, and sexually transmitted diseases. Purity brings a sense of self-worth and dignity. It is a gross distortion to envision the highly principled individual as living in misery while the person of low morals has a life of bliss and fulfillment.
Amid this morass of immorality and spiritual blindness, of sin and shameless ungodliness, the Holy Bible sets the standard for moral behavior. It is the unquestionable and eternal authority on the matter of right and wrong.
God created man with the sex urge for the propagation of the human race and the enhancement of the marriage bond between husband and wife. He sanctions fulfillment of this desire only within rightful marriage. “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4).
In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul writes of God’s judgment on homosexuality. “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient” (Romans 1:26-28). This was the abominable sin of Sodom and Gomorrah, and it brought God’s judgment upon them (Genesis 19). According to the Scriptures, it is impossible to retain the Holy Spirit in our hearts and live a Christian life if we live and practice these sins.
If you want to be really happy in life and be at peace with yourself and God, you must come into fellowship with Him. Recognize and confess that you are a sinner and believe that Jesus died on the cross bearing your guilt. Victory is awaiting you!
As you open your heart to God and confess your sins, He will forgive you. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Willingly commit your whole life to Jesus, your Savior, and follow in true obedience to his Word and Holy Spirit. The blessings of the changed life are pure thoughts, which bring about a wonderful change in our actions and activities. Christ will give you courage to face the problems of life and strength to overcome the temptations that may assail you. Come to Jesus now while He is calling. “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6).