Daily Devotional for Tuesday June 14, 2011
In the Wake of NY Congressman Anthony Weiner's Scandal, Is There Such a Thing as a Sex Spirit
(Romans 14:12; Jeremiah 31:30; Ezekiel 18:20)
In the wake of the scandal involving New York Congressman Anthony Weiner and his extra-marital affairs via social media, it brings to the surface the debate whether there is such a thing as a "sex spirit." This is the spirit that is responsible for fornication, adultery, lust, homosexuality, and every other sexual sin. After all, we know there has to be some reason so many people commit sexual sin and the "sex spirit" is the answer.
Since sexual sin is something almost everyone fights at some point in their life, I should actually write a book about the "sex spirit." It would sell millions of copies worldwide to people who are Christians as well as to those who are not. It would actually be a best seller in the homosexual community and to others who have rejected God's plan for sex since it would explain their actions. I could actually take a few verses here and a few verses there to even make a Biblical case for the "sex spirit."
However, there is only one small problem, THERE IS NO SUCH THING!!! I am sorry to have to tell you this, but there is NO "sex spirit." It doesn't exist. Oh trust me, I know people want it to exist. They want something to blame their sinful behavior on and blaming it on a "sex spirit" would be perfect. You see, if there really was a "sex spirit," then you don't have to take responsibility for YOUR CHOICES since it wasn't you, it was the "sex spirit" that made you do it.
When you read the Bible cover to cover, one of the things you understand is that the Bible is a book of personal responsibility. We are personally responsible for the choices we make in our life. Blaming someone or something else doesn't work! Ever since man committed the very first sin in the Garden of Eden, he has been trying to blame his sin on someone or something else. Look at Adam. When confronted with his sin by God what did he do? HE BLAMED GOD AND EVE!!! Like I say so often, we have not changed one bit since the Garden. But God was not interested in Adam's excuse and God is not interested in your excuse either.
I'm not sure if you noticed lately, but God is one smart guy. You see, God gave us something called "free will." Free will means we are NOT pre-programmed robots, but have the ability to make our own choices throughout our life. The upside to this is that we can choose to do whatever we want. If you want to be an Adolph Hitler and commit your life to destroying lives and killing millions of people, you can do it. If you want to be a Billy Graham and commit your life to preaching the Gospel to the world and be used by God to bring millions to know Christ as their Savior, you can do it. Free will means you have the ability to choose to do whatever you want.
Because God gave man free will, it also means that we are PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE for the choices that we make. Now I understand in today's society accepting personal responsibility is not popular. We have to always find a "reason" why people do the things they do. Children that are hyperactive, have way too much energy, who act like children should are now told they have ADD or ADHD. While in a percentage of cases there may be a medical issue that exists, in most cases it is simply an excuse for children that have not been properly disciplined or are simply just being kids.
No place do we see people making excuses for their choices more than in the criminal justice system. It is the job of well paid defense lawyers to dream up excuses to explain away a person's criminal actions. They have come up with every reason you can imagine to explain why a person who committed a crime was not really responsible for their actions. This mentality has permeated to every part of our society, and finding reasons to explain why people are not responsible for the choices they make has become an art.
Let me make sure you understand, this may work in the world in which we live, but it doesn't work with God. God has given us free will to make our own choices, but along with that freedom, comes the responsibility for whatever choices we make. God is not interested in your excuse why you sinned, only in you taking responsibility for that sin. He has even given us a wonderful promise in 1 John 1:9 that tells us, if we will confess our sins, take personal responsibility for our sins, He will not only forgive us but cleanse us from all unrighteousness. All God wants us to do is to be honest, not make excuses, and take personal responsibility for the choices we make.
I love you and care about you so much. I am sorry that there is no "sex spirit," or anything else you can blame for sin in that area. God has given us the choice to either obey Him, or disobey Him. When we choose to disobey Him, it was not another person, a "spirit," or anything else we can blame. It was OUR CHOICE. I will be praying for you today, praying that you will realize that you have got to be responsible for whatever choices you make in this life. You, and you alone made those choices, and you, and you alone have to be responsible for the choices you make.
This is why the moment we die and stand before God, there is only one question He is going to ask us. It is not what day of the week we went to church. It is not the name of the building we choose to worship Him in. It is not how successful you may have been in this life. No my friend, the only question God is going to ask you is, "Do you have a personal relationship by faith with my Son Jesus." You either do, or you don't. If you do, God will welcome you into His presence for eternity. If you don't, you will be eternally separated from God your Creator. Period.
If you don't, God is NOT going to be interested in any of your excuses. "Jim and Tammy had an air conditioned dog house." The pastor in my church ran off with the choir director." "Somebody was mean to me at church." "Christians are hypocrites." "I don't like Bill Keller." "All they care about is money." " I was a good person." "The Bible was written by mere men." "My dog ate my homework." No, God is not going to be interested in hearing any of your excuses for why you rejected Jesus Christ as your Savior. That is a personal decision each person must make in this life, and each person will be held responsible by God for eternity for that decision.
If you have not made the decision to accept Christ into your heart and life by faith, the Bible says that TODAY is the day of salvation. I would invite you to go to, http://www.liveprayer.com/plan.cfm . Pray to ask God to open your heart, read the words, pray the prayer, and accept today God's gift to you of everlasting life through His son Jesus Christ.
In His love and service, Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller