| February 20th, 2001 - Surviving Temptation Island Any honest assessment of history will reveal that the moral climate of a society is directly relational to its health and security. One thing that history teaches us is that man doesn't learn from history. The cycle repeats itself. And all the evidence invariably points to one culprit. As the comic strip character, Pogo, surmised, "We have found the enemy... it is us!" It's been said that what we do in high school remains with us throughout the remainder of our adult lives. The implication here is that our choices in this mentally formative time period continue with us, impacting and affecting our future choices, dreams, and views of life. Surveys among our high school and college youth reveal widespread, deeply imbedded doubts about marriage and the hope of a faithful lasting relationship. Once upon a time, faithfulness was taught and cultivated in service, work, family, love, in all aspects of life. But sadly, faithfulness seems to have taken a back seat to "happiness" and self-actualization for a "me first" generation. Interestingly enough, ever since the introduction of unchaperoned teenage dating into our society, the divorce rate has steadily risen. Apparently, the "go with the flow" mentality has helped promote the idea of casual, uncommitted romantic involvement and has not served the cultivation of faithfulness. The result? We learn to get out when the going gets tough in a relationship rather than trying harder to make it work (and believe me, all relationships take work!!!). I'm not talking about staying in an abusive relationship. That would be absurd. Sometimes divorce is necessary. But the human tendency to justify unfaithfulness (i.e. cheating) is something that we must be wary of. Let's face it, humans are naturally selfish. Virtues such as unconditional love are not inherent to the survival instinct. Adultery, fornication, lust, laciviousness are natural ingredients to the human plight and will continue to govern societal trends unless there is divine intervention. "They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbor's wife. Shall I not visit (bring judgement) for these things? says the Lord: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?" (Jeremiah 5: 8,9) As a loving caretaker, God is not happy with this situation at all. He knows who the real victims of unfaithfulness are. It's the children of broken homes, the innocent lives which are destroyed by the products of those homes, and perhaps not so remotely, the women of our society. A recent study shows that an incredible percentage of men at older ages are still mating up with younger women. Conversely, women as they get older are alone; those with mates are are only a small percentage of their age group. It's the women and children who are the casualties of this playboy, temptation island lifestyle; and God cannot help but see the bigger picture. That's just the way He is. God, in his wondrous mercy will allow sin to continue for only so long. He lovingly respects our right to choose and holds back until we come to the realization of His ways and His wisdom. But if we push away His gentle invitation to receive life and continue on our trek of demise, he will surely intervene in our lives, as individuals, as a nation... After all, He remains faithful, even if we are not. |