What is your favorite dessert of choice? For me, I love a chocolate milkshake! And, I can just about eat my weight in those state fair funnel cakes. But, I have to say that nothing beats eating 1 (or 5) hot, steamy Krispy Kreme donuts! (If you don’t know Krispy Kreme donuts, your tongue doesn’t know amazing!) Some might believe that the pleasure of such sweet delights is only experienced by the sensation of sucrose hitting the tongue. But not so. The fact is, you continue to taste sugar as it works its way through your body.
Taste cells specialized to detect sweet-tasting stuff live all over the tongue. When something sweet hits these cells, a Yum! A signal is sent right to the brain. As you digest sugar, enzymes break it all down into glucose and fructose. In the small intestine, some of these same taste cells that are on the tongue are present there too. The result, once again, is Yum! Out of the small intestine, transporter proteins carry these molecules through the bloodstream to the pancreas. And guess what? Yes, in the pancreas, the same reaction: Yum! Yum!
The point is, the sugar sensation we have all experienced is a full-body one.
The same is true when it comes to sex. Sex is a complete physical, emotional, and spiritual experience! That’s how God made it. And just like the “Oh my word!” moment you have when your body gets a hit of your favorite sugar-fix, God wants you to experience the same when it comes to the gift of sex. He created you as a being to enjoy sex the way He intended it to be: one man + one woman within a marriage for life! It is impossible in this one column to address all that needs addressing as it relates to dating, love, and sex. But, there is one question that teens consistently ask me that I want to tackle. It isn’t a specific question about sex, but it is one that needs answering because it could influence whether or not you choose to become sexually active before marriage. The question: Is it okay to date a non-Christian?
Let me answer this question with a few questions for you:
- Would you want to marry someone who doesn’t believe there’s a heaven, hell, or God?
- Would you want to marry someone who wouldn’t embrace reading the Bible, going to church, and praying?
- Would you want to marry someone who wouldn’t instill in your children godly character and the practices of praying, going to church, and reading the Bible?
I hope your answer to each of these questions is a definite no. Anyone you choose to date should be marriage worthy. Don’t fall into the trap of believing “If I date this person, I can change this person.” I know of countless stories that have tragically proven otherwise.
Who you date greatly influences the choices you make while on your dates. Satan knows this. He will work like mad to dangle the goods in front of you and get you to believe the lie that the choice to have sex before marriage is no big deal.
Satan wants you to be confused about God’s plan for your dating life and sex life. He wants you to believe that the Bible hasn’t clearly outlined what’s okay and what’s not when it comes to who you date and what you do on your dates. He wants you to think there are all kinds of loopholes in God’s rules that allow you to do some things that aren’t technically sex. But he’s wrong. Dead wrong. God’s Word is clear: impurity is off limits.
There are tons of reasons to not cross the purity line until you’re married—reasons like guilt, unwanted pregnancy, STDs, and partner comparisons – but the ultimate reason sex before marriage is no good is this: God said so!
It’s never too late for you to do the right thing. If you’ve made wrong choices, you can start over. You can come clean with yourself, come clean with God, and make the choice now that God’s way will be your way from now on. 1 John 1:9 is proof that God offers second chances.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
This verse promises that if you confess your sins to God, you can know that God will forgive you and take your sins away.
Be determined to…
- Never compromise who you are or who you choose to date.
- Clearly articulate your expectations and intentions for any dating relationship before your first date.
- Decide now what type of parties you won’t go to, movies you won’t watch, and environments you won’t step into.
- Say no!
- Walk away from any relationship that hinders your relationship with God.
When it comes to your dating life, make it your goal now to stick to God’s way of purity. First Corinthians 6:18 reminds you to run from all sexual immorality. You will face these temptations the rest of your life. Being determined to do right doesn’t exempt you from temptation, but it does place you one step ahead of the sugar hit!
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