Taking Out the Garbage before Marriage (Sexual Sin)

Judges 2:1-3: 1 The angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, "I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I swore to give to your forefathers. I said, 'I will never break my covenant with you, 2 and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.' Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? 3 Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you."The scripture can be applied to marriage in this way, Many go into marriage with the misconception that marriage will save them from sinful habits (lust, addiction to porn, masturbation). But, entering a marriage with those habits (thorns) in no way will ever resolve those issues especially when the trials of marriage arise. When you sin (Especially sexually, which because of our inward sexual desire can be the hardest sin to break), you in similarity to Israel enter into a covenant of slavery with that sin (John 8:34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.) When you bring sinful habits into your marriage they become snares and thorns to you. In Judges, the children of Israel failed to drive out all the previous inhabitants of the land, and because of that Israel began to worship other gods and eventually eat their own children(2 Kings 6:28-29).Likewise; lust, porn, masturbation and the like that all seem like secret and harmless habits can grow into a serious problem if not stopped. They are the seeds of greater sin. From their seeds grow dissatisfaction with your spouse, to adultery, and finally, open judgment resulting in open shame for the body of Christ (ex: many high profile pastors that have fallen to various sins and in so doing wound the flock under there care and the body as a whole). No one knows how far unchecked sin will go until it is too late. Some of you reading this may say, “Well it’s no big deal! I’m in control.” Please consider this humble warning. 1st Peter 5:8 says “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” A lion does not attack its prey when it is aware but when it is relaxed. So brothers (and sisters) I urge you in light of all that Christ has done for us to put to an end these destructive sins in our lives. If you are mastered by these sins now, look for the struggle to get worse not better when you marry. If any of you struggle ask God for the answer, pray, search scripture and after you have done so, apply. I ask for your prayers as well.