As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.(John 9:4)

Saturday, November 18, 2006

The horrors of adultery

Adultery- the despised word in a marriage. Movies nowadays play on this theme often as though a marriage that is void of adultery is almost abnormal. We have heard stories after stories about how marriages are being destroyed because of unfaithfulness. It was used to be a "Western" problem but even in Malaysia, the divorce rate had increased tremendously over the recent years and I suspect, the main reason is due to adultery. In christian marriages, we value the sanctity of marriage - couples were taught about it through proper marital counseling before their weddings. Yet, with all this in place, the Christians are not spared. I wrote with much heartache and sadness this time because I have the misfortune of looking at this ugly word, almost face-to-face. It happened to someone that is very close to me. Actually, this was not the first time - she had encountered her husband's unfaithfulness a few years back. It was dealt with then and they had moved on with their lives. Unfortunately, it rears its ugly head again this time and it had become worse than before. She did not want to confide to anyone at first. Who would want to - washing their dirty linens in the public? She had given him a few chances to break up with the lady. He had promised to do so but due to the weakness of the flesh, he had never succeeded. The emotional attachment is too deep. The other party does not want to let go either. I said this time it is worst than before because the other lady is a married woman too. What a big mess! When I got to know about this, I was agitated because I just cannot understand how two church goers can enter into such disgusting and dangerous liaison. What had happened to their conscience? They were counselled to let go but instead of allowing the Lord to guide their hearts, they had let their flesh the free rein. A moment of pleasure will reap an eternity of regrets. If the man would really decide to leave the family, his son will grow up not knowing the true responsibility of a man and a father, and the fruit of despair will be reaped in the next generation. The vicious cycle of bitterness and disappointment thus begins.

How true it is that the Devil is here to steal and destroy. His tactic is to break down Christian families. What can we do to stop it? Even Christian leaders are not spared and their downfall not only harm their own families but it had stumbled hundreds or even thousands of members and church followers. How shall we go about it? The spirit of deception and lust can be so powerful and the church seems to be so powerless. I can only pray that the Lord's mercy and grace will sustain us all. Let the Lord's prayer, "lead us not unto temptation but deliver us from the evil one" help us to realize our own frailty and how much we are dependent on Him every day of our lives. Lord, please help your children this day!

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