YOU CAN REMAIN MORALLY CLEAN

LONG ago, the prophet Malachi was inspired to foretell a time when the conduct of God's people would stand in dramatic contrast with that of people who do not serve God. The prophet wrote:  "You people will again certainly see the distinction between a righteous one and a wicked one, between one serving God and one who has not served him."  (Malachi 3:18)  That prophecy is being fulfilled  today.  The keeping of God's commandments, including those requiring moral cleanness, is the wise and proper course in life.  Yet, it is not always an easy course.  For good reason, Jesus said that Christians must exert themselves vigorously to gain salvation. -Luke 13:23, 24.

Why is it difficult to remain morally chaste?  One reason is that there are external pressures.  The entertainment industry portrays illicit sex as glamorous, pleasurable and adult, while virtually ignoring its negative consequences.  (Ephesians 4:17-19)  Most of the intimate relations portrayed are between couples not married to each other.   Often movies and television shows depict sexual relations in a context of casual, noncommitted relationships.  Typically, warmth and mutual respect are lacking.  Many have been exposed to such messages from childhood.  Moreover,there is strong peer pressure to conform to today's liberal moral climate, and those who do not are sometimes mocked or even reviled. -1 Peter 4:4.

Internal pressure also makes it difficult to remain morally chaste.  Jehovah crested humans with sexual desires, and those desires can be strong.  Desire has a  lot to do with what we think, and immorality is linked to thinking that does not harmonize with Jehovah's thoughts.  (James 1:14, 15)  For example, according to recent survey published in the British Medical Journal, many who engaged in sexual intercourse for the first time were merely curious to find out what sex was like.  Others believe that most people their age were sexually active, so they too wanted to lose their virginity.  Still, others said that  they got carried away by their feelings or were 'a bit drunk at the time."  If we want to be pleasing to God,w e must reason differently. What sort of thinking will help us to maintain moral cleanness?

Next time: Build Strong Convictions

Watchtower, 2000