We see this in our ministry to teens and families more than you would think. We meet a family in crisis because the husband is having an affair, or the wife is emotionally disconnected. We meet teens who have watched hours and hours of porn to the extent that they are isolated, scared, and depressed by the trap they have created. We meet young girls who are trapped in relationship cycles of being a sex predator or prey. In every one of these situations and more, we find people who have willingly trained like Olympic athletes for a life wrapped in sin. They have convinced themselves that at any point, they can walk away, ask God for forgiveness, and go about their lives as if nothing happened.
They simply follow the impulses they have given themselves over to, which are all in direct opposition to the things that deep, safe, intimate, and soul-satisfying relationships are supposed to provide. They have been deceived into thinking that they are free to “have their cake and eat it too”. They have chosen to have only brief sexual encounters and live without the very things their hearts were created to thrive in.
As to the forgiveness issue… Yes, of course God forgives us of our sins and even of our stupidity. Forgiveness, however, is not transactional, it is relational. You cannot ask for forgiveness for something you plan to do again tomorrow and receive forgiveness. In this instance, you are not even asking for forgiveness; you are asking for immunity so that you don’t suffer consequences.
Pastor Dave Carl has written and recorded a unique story this week that speaks to the heart of this issue. Training for a lifetime of sin is the opposite of what we are called to do. And, I would guess, is the opposite of what your heart truly desires in the long run.
If you find yourself trapped in a cycle of sin and want to change that pattern, there are strong Christians here at Stonebriar Community Church who want to help. Just connect with us. We will walk with you, encourage you, and share our own stories.
If you would prefer a printed copy of this story, you can download one here: I’ll Have My Cake and Eat It Too Please
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July 28, 2018
Wow! Awesome truth!!