“It’s not that big of a deal because it’s not real.”
- Says the husband who is hiding an ongoing Snapchat conversation with another woman from his wife
- Says the wife who is withholding a hidden email account for an emotional affair from her husband
“It’s not that big of a deal because it’s not real.”
- Says the father who is indulging in pornography
- Says the mother who is a passionate fan of literary and cinematic erotica
“It’s not that big of a deal because it’s not real.”
- Says the man at the strip club
- Says the woman at the night club
“It’s not that big of a deal because it’s not real.” Therein lies the fundamental fallacy behind the fantasy. While we may work to salve our twinging consciences by rationalizing that things in print or pixels or online aren’t “real,” they are in fact more real than most realize because they are affecting our hearts.
Keep your heart with all vigilance,
__ for from it flow the springs of life. (Prov 4:23)
The bottom line:
- A husband cannot hide inappropriate dialogue with another woman from his wife and his heart not be impacted. That “makes it REAL.”
- A wife cannot maintain a hidden email account for an emotional affair and her heart not be impacted. That “makes it REAL.”
- A father cannot open the gate of his mind to pornography and his heart not be impacted. That “makes it REAL.”
- A mother cannot imbibe literary and cinematic erotica and her heart not be impacted. That “makes it REAL.”
- A man cannot watch what is happening in a strip club and his heart not be impacted. That “makes it REAL.”
- A woman cannot compromise her virtue in a night club and her heart not be impacted. That “makes it REAL.”
Which is why the Spirit of God issues the call of Ephesians 5:3-5.
But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
If something is not even to be named among the saints of God, you’d better believe “it’s REAL.”
“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person.” (Matt 15:19-20)
When I allow someone or something to pollute the wellspring of my heart, it’s more “real” than I can possibly imagine. There’s nothing fake or frivolous about unholiness.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matt 5:8)
Nothing this sin-sick world has to offer is worth forfeiting that blessing.