A Dead-End Street by Stephen Davey

A Dead-End Street
James 1:14-15 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.  Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. I read of a couple who had been married  thirty-five years, had three grown children who loved them dearly, and were blessed with financial resources.  They were finally able to purchase a lakeside retirement home they had dreamed about for a long time. Put on the market by a widower, it was the perfect place. Before the offer to buy was finalized, the woman had a change of heart and direction. In fact, life would dramatically change for both the owner of the lake house and the prospective buyers.  It seems the wife wanted a divorce—not the retirement home. Her husband, feeling a surge of confusion and anger sweep over him, shouted, "How could you be planning something like this . . . after all this time . . .  when we're so close to buying our dream home . . . after thirty-five years?" She explained that she hadn't been planning a long time to ask for the divorce—it had been a recent decision.  The man who held her interest . . . and her heart . . . was the widower who owned the lakefront home!   How could this be? It seems she had run into him several weeks after they had met to discuss the purchase of the home. There was a quick lunch together, which led to another lunch, and then another . . . Wow!  Now she's telling her husband that she is in love with this man and isn't about to change her mind. Not even her grown children, horrified by the turn of events, could talk sense into their mother. The day of the wife's departure, her husband was walking through the kitchen with her luggage, and on his way to the garage, stopped, looked at her with tearful eyes, and said, "I guess this is the last time I'll be doing this." Feeling awkward and guilty, she hurriedly grabbed her coat and purse and left the house, driving to meet the new man in her life. Two weeks after she moved in with him he suffered a massive heart attack, lingered a few days, and died. In just two weeks, the lives of so many were irreparably damaged. Trust was destroyed, the future changed, bright prospects of grandparenting clouded with sorrow, and the vows of marriage shattered by a series of painful events. My friend, whether you are single or married, God requires purity from you. In your marriage, the smartest thing you will ever do is stay faithful and committed to your spouse. Christ says in Matthew 5, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Are you satisfying your desires with impure thoughts, images, or relationships?  Then you are not able to see God. Don't be deceived by the promises of sin—they are dead-end streets lined with guilt and sorrow. God knows our hearts; He sees every thought and deed. He isn't fooled by excuses and cover-ups. So I beg you . . . don't destroy your life and the lives of others by choosing or covering sexual sin. God's way avoids the dead-end streets and broad avenues that lead to destruction.  Don't take that detour—stay on the narrow way . . . it leads to life.
Prayer Point:Confess any perverse thoughts or actions that you have been covering up, and ask God to rid you of them, replacing them with pure thoughts which are pleasing to Him. Stop any plans or flirtations with relationships that will either erode your spiritual walk or hurt your marriage.
Extra Refreshment:Read 2 Samuel 11—a reminder of the devastating consequences of sexual sin.