My
Son,
As you prepare
to go away to college, I thought I should warn you about some things the
devil will use to attack you. Please do not think this is all he will do
(remember
1 Peter 5:8),
but I believe there are three areas in which he will attack with the most
effort, and I wanted to offer advice on how to deal with each one.
The Temptation to Sin
Sexually
At college,
there will be more young women your age than you have ever known. A great
many of them will dress provocatively, and indeed, many of them will have
already been sexually active. Some of them, confused by such cultural
phenomena as "Sex in The City," will promote the myth of "casual sex," the
idea that sex is not a big deal, and can be engaged in without thought to
consequences, particularly to the soul.
As I said, the
idea is a myth. Besides the dangerous and troubling physical consequences of
such action, there are eternal consequences that make this a matter of grave
importance. From the beginning, sex was given by God to married couples,
both for procreation
(Gen. 1:28)
and for pleasure (Song of Solomon). It is a significant part of the "one
flesh" relationship designed for marriage. Outside of marriage, Paul says it
is the only sin that one commits "against his own body"
(1 Cor. 6:18).
In addition,
there is great joy to be found in remaining pure until marriage. Being able
to present yourself to your bride in a pure way is one of the greatest
wedding gifts you can give her, and I hope you will make it your goal.
The Temptation to Sin with Alcohol
Among the
biggest temptations facing college students away from home is the temptation
to use alcohol. Many will tell you that alcohol is harmless, or that "one
little drink is not going to hurt you." There are several things I would
have you consider.
First, for most
of your days in college, the state says it is illegal for you even to
possess an alcoholic beverage. As Christians, are we not to obey the laws of
the land? Second, the rehab centers and hospitals are filled with those who
thought alcohol was harmless, only to find themselves hopelessly addicted to
it. In addition to that, the morgues are filled with those whose deaths were
caused by the poor decisions that so often accompany the consumption of
alcohol, and there are thousands of families torn apart by the sin of
alcoholism. The impact on your decision-making processes also often leads to
sexual sin. Finally, there is the cost to your soul to consider. Hell will
also be filled by those who thought "one little drink won't hurt me."
Consider
Proverbs 23:29-35,
as Solomon relates the degradation of the drinker.
The Temptation to "Skip Church"
Satan makes
this one very easy. You don't have to make a decision to do wrong. You don't
have to do something vile. In fact, you don't have to "do" anything. All you
have to do is sleep late on Sunday morning. It will be easy, because most of
your dorm mates will be doing the same thing. No one's going to wake you up
and "make" you go. It will be easy.
Do not be so
easily convinced. While the temptations of sex and alcohol are very
dangerous, I believe in many ways, this is even more so. When you decided to
"sleep in," you give in to Satan just a little bit. But no one goes from
Christian one day to reprobate the next. It is a gradual process. When you
give in just a little, the next time it will be easier, and before long, you
will find that you are "giving in" on bigger and bigger matters, sacrificing
your Christianity and values for what is "easy."
Hebrews 10:25
teaches us that we are not to forsake "our own assembling together," but the
erosion on your values and indeed, on your soul, is what really matters
here. There will be many times you may think you are too tired to get up and
go. Get up, get dressed, and go anyway. You will think that you can simply
go to the evening service. Get up, get dressed, and go anyway. You may be
the only one in your dorm who gets up and goes. Get up, get dressed, and go
anyway.
As I said,
these will not be the only ways Satan tries to entice you, but these are
prominent ways. Do not give in. Remember that you may be all that many of
your friends ever see of Christianity. Be a shining example to them
(Matt. 5:16).
With Love —
Your Dad
Other Articles
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Teenage Suicide: Its Causes and Its Cure
Do All to the Glory of God
Likemindedness - A Neglected Duty
A Woman's Work and Place in the Assembly
Preach Christ and not a Plan
The Slippery Slope of Flattery
Yes You Can
Morality, the Government and Christians
Speech Made at the Funeral of Irven
Lee
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