The top two national news stories feature sexual allegations. Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain is alleged to have sexually harassed several women in years past. Ex- Penn State University football defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky is accused of sexually abusing eight young boys. I use the word allegations, only because we don’t know the full story at this time. But once again we see the allure of sex and the power it has can have over us as human beings.

But let’s take a moment and think what this can say to you and me. In the very beginning God created male and female (Genesis 1:27). That’s right, just pause. We are created with sexual equipment. You are either male or female with the biological marks designed to distinguish between the two. Rejoice in that! God created and designed us as sexual beings. The problem is we are also flawed with sinful natures and desires.
So what can assist as created sexual being in honoring God and each other? Let’s take a stab at answering that important question. This is what helps me and maybe it’ll help you too. I want to use three words. Are you ready for the three words? They are heart, eyes, and friend. Repeat the three words. Now let’s explore how each word can assist us in honoring God and each other as sexual beings.

Heart

When it comes to how the Bible usually uses heart, don’t think beating organ inside your chest. Instead think control center of your intellect, feelings, and will. Whew, that’s a lot going on inside of us. This is why Jesus says in Mathew 15:19, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” Jesus used some words like “evil thoughts” and “sexual immorality.” The source is from our hearts. So if we are to defeat the “evil thoughts” and “sexual immorality” it’ll take a heart transplant. Jesus is the Master of the heart transplant. That’s why it says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Jesus is our heart surgeon and He changes us. If we are to control our sexual urges we need outside assistance as found in Jesus. It’s not going to happen in our own human strength. Our sexual desires are to strong for that. We need Jesus.

Eyes

I can only speak from a man’s perspective, because after all, I’m a man. But I think the rest of the men who read this can identify with how in our sexual makeup we’re wired by sight. There’s something about the female body that draws our eyes to her shapely figure. Jesus recognized this and spoke these words found in Matthew 5:27-30, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.”

The porn business knows guys are wired by sight. So they use the female body to draw men into their sites. (Women are becoming more attracted to porn than ever before too.) I’ve heard pornography makes more money every year than all the professional sports teams in the USA combined. That’s a lot of money. But it also costs men more than their money. Porn damages the relationship men have with their girlfriends and wives. It also leads to a sense of guilt, shame, and being out of control. The problem is that our eyes are everywhere and so is porn. I went to college in the days before the computer. In those dark days you had to get your hands on a magazine with glossy photos of naked women. Today all you need is a click on the mouse of your computer and the sexual temptation begins. Jesus takes this call for eye purity pretty seriously. He uses words like “gouge” and “cut.” Hyperbole? Probably so. But it challenges us to take strong measures in protecting what we look at. So we can “gouge” our eyeballs by looking away from the attractive girl in the skimpy bikini at the pool. We can stop staring at the female on the computer screen that wants us to enlarge her image. We can “cut” off our finger on the mouse by clicking to a different screen. Do whatever it takes to protect our eyes.

Friend

Jesus never intended for us to go through life alone. Jesus established the church and the church is far more than a building on a corner block. The church is people and the New Testament uses the phrase “one another” a gazillion times. Maybe not that many, but it’s a lot. Take this for instance, “Let us encourage one another.” (Hebrews 10:25)
We could use some encouragement in honoring God and each other as sexual beings. It would be good to team up with someone who has your best interests at heart. Give that person permission to ask the tough questions concerning your life as a sexual being. Likewise, you can keep the other person accountable. Together we can honor God with our sexuality.

Let’s recognize we live in a culture with many sexual allures. Any allegations brought against us because of sexual sin damages the name of Christ and our very lives. Let’s assist each other and use our bodies for His glory.

Join the discussion… how do you go about honoring God and each other as sexual beings?