A loving and forgiving God...

Saturday, 31st October 2009, 16:30 hrs...

A young man wrote me a letter years ago and confided in me his struggles... Recently while in Singapore we reconnected again and so recounted the event that led to his near moral downfall. At this time while I was back in Singapore, he shared about his own experience of God's forgiveness and offered me the permission to share about him in my preaching or other contexts, as long as I do not divulge his name.

Like many people, this friend of mine (let's call him John) spoke of his lack of discipline and self-control and of his subsequent moral delinquency. Because of the lack of self-control, he got himself into all sorts of compromising situations, many of which were sexual. His first encounter was on a flight with a Spanish woman. He was then young, energetic, and relatively charming. Though he and the woman didn't go much further, unfortunately, their heavy petting on board the flight left him wanting more. This led to more encounters after his flight back. In some of his business trips, he kept getting into many of these situations in which he became involved with various ladies whom he hardly knew. Some at home, some abroad. But because of his fear of sexual diseases, he never got himself into the actual sexual act except thrice, once with a young lady, twice with a same lady. However, in every one of these instances, he felt dirty.

What he felt and still feels is important. For he felt dirty and so the first thing he did was to have a thorough shower and scrubbed himself hard with soap. The other feeling is that of guilt and shame. He felt he'd let God down, since he's a Christian. It was then that I realised, indeed, Christians were never spared the sexual temptations as this friend of mine. John had to fly often for business, and oftentimes he would feel lonely after meeting the business clients. This was where he would feel tempted to link up the computer and find someone to chat, which often led to compromising situations. Those of us who never have to be in such a compromising situation should consider themselves blessed.

Finally, he came before the Lord and went on his knees to pray, yet again. It wasn't his first time praying, but it was another of those moments when he had to resort to prayer in order to rid himself of those feelings of guilt. This particular day, he suddenly felt a certain deep understanding of the love and forgiveness of God, when he said to God something like this (I'm recalling what he said to me), "Lord, I'm so sorry for failing you, and for such shameful deeds. I really am sorry. I don't want to displease you; but somehow I keep falling prey to this problem...". And then, for the first time, he actually felt that everything was over; that he was experiencing a new beginning; that he was definitely going to be different; that God would forgive him if he were to be sincere in confessing his sins and turn over a new leaf...

In tears, John (not his real name, as mentioned earlier) shared with me how touching it was for him. He felt that he couldn't and shouldn't get married, as he was afraid he might become unfaithful to his wife, and that his past didn't qualify him for marriage. All he wanted was to lead a life of purity from now on...for he has experienced the loving and forgiving God.

Many Christians today face such temptations or problems. Some heterosexual, others lesbian or homosexual. Whatever they may be, it is important for us to remember the story recorded in the Gospels: a woman was caught in adultery and brought to Jesus. They said to Jesus that the Law of Moses says such a person should be stoned to death. And we notice that Jesus told the men who wanted to stone her, "Those who do not have any sins may be the first to cast a stone on her". These men walked away one by one. After all had left, Jesus asked the woman where the men were, to which she replied, "They've all left". And Jesus replied, "Nor will I judge you. Go and sin no more".

Indeed, we need to recall that Jesus gives those who sin a chance to turn over a new leaf, and he will not judge such people. What's important is his final words, "Go and sin no more".
When faced with the torrents of sin, let us take courage and be strong. For God will not judge us, and he wants us to go and sin no more, if we are sincere, genuine and want to change over.

God bless us.