Pick Up the Pieces

As a teenager she thought she was invincible, nothing could detain her. She was confident, smart and beautiful. She was the life of the party. With these kind of attributes, how could she have a care in the world?

Years go by. High school is over, college years ensue. The parties are bigger, louder, and wilder. Everyone is drinking, drugging, dancing, laughing, and having sex. Wild, crazy, "carefree" nights. From one fun night to the next, she’s making many intimate friends. She’s young and beautiful… she’s not hurting anyone… she’s just having a good time. Besides, there are so many guys out there, why not enjoy them?

College graduation comes and goes. She’s in her early twenties, now the real partying begins. Over 21 years old – the world is at her fingertips. She works her 9-5 but makes sure to go out almost every night. Out with the girls. Short skirts and high heels. Guys buying her drinks all night. At the end of the night, his place or hers didn’t matter to her. Many mornings of not knowing who he was or how she got home. But she’s young and "carefree"... it’s all in good fun, right?

More years down the road, she says she’s tamed her ways. An occasional night out, not as reckless as before. From many male encounters to just a handful. She thinks she has it all together. She’s beautiful, successful, and still "carefree." To her, life couldn’t get any better.

"Your test came back positive. You have HIV. We’d like you to come in to discuss your treatment options."

This was crushing. Each spoken word was an anvil-like blow to her heart. Not her! How could this be?! When did this happen? Who did she get it from? How could this happen to someone that was invincible?

She couldn’t possibly know who she contracted this fatal disease from, for there were too many to count. Countless men throughout the years, some even nameless never to be seen again. Her decision to be promiscuous and "carefree" came at the cost of her health.

With no cure, all those years of a "carefree" lifestyle will cost her life.

But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out. (Numbers 32:23)

The bible continuously reminds us to refrain from sexual desires.

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:18, 20)

Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress? For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths. The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray. (Proverbs 5:20-23)

We have come into an era where sex is main stream. It’s unavoidable, from commercials to movies to fashion. It is one of the easiest sins to fall prey to. Day after day, so many try to justify premarital sex. But it is, in fact, inexcusable. It is, in fact, against the Word of God.

As Christians, we are held to God’s commands. We should exemplify His words in every way… including what we do with our bodies. Our bodies are His temple. HIS temple. We should not abuse or desecrate it.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (Romans 13:14)

When you have sex, you are giving that person a piece of yourself. They get a physical, emotional, and mental piece of you. With each thought; with each act; with each person, you lose something within yourself.

When you marry… the day you join your life with the partner that God has intended for you… how can you say your partner is getting all of you? How are you ‘whole’ if you’ve lost pieces of yourself from premarital sex?

Pick up the pieces.

Stop giving yourself away. No matter what your past experience has been, God offers you total forgiveness when you repent. He offers complete healing for the areas that have been broken. Ask the Lord for forgiveness for your lustful desires and sins. He will work within you, making you whole once again.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. (Ezekiel 36:25)

Please realize that from this moment on you can start over with a clean slate. You can decide right now that you want to make good choices about your purity from now on.

Romans 12:1
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.