A Call to Sexual Purity

As I travel through the major roads of Metro Manila, skimming through magazines and newspapers, and when I watch television, I have noticed that most advertisements have relied on the use of sexually stimulating images to catch the attention of the masses with the hope, I would assume, of creating avid fans of the business being promoted.

With all these, I asked myself, “Is the strategy really working?” Has society accepted the fact that “sex sells”? More importantly, is it really all just for inviting people to buy or does it also suggest a change in an individual’s outlook on life? I suddenly became concerned as the idea irked through my mind.

With all these, I wonder, is it still possible to be sexually pure as we live during these times?

I tried to answer these questions using only my own understanding, only to fail at shedding light to the concern and even falling to the allures of ungodly sexual admonition, which almost destroyed my marriage, my family and my relationship with God. Inevitably I was able to bounce back, with the help of my wife, my dad, Christian friends and most importantly through God’s grace.

I decided to remain in God’s holy presence and do away with the earthly things that have held me from my heavenly rewards in Jesus Christ. I fervently prayed and read the bible, and as a result, came upon a revelation from God regarding sexual immorality. I read the story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39).

Joseph was truly a man of God, one who deserves much admiration for his zeal on to the Lord. Despite the pain & ridicule that his brothers bestowed upon him, despite being sold to strangers and taken away from his family, Joseph did not cease to walk righteously and was therefore continuously blessed by God tremendously. And as others saw that God was with him, government officials trusted Joseph and would let him handle their riches. And even as he was continuously blessed by God, he did not change his outlook in life.

Now the story I would like to focus on, with respect to sexual purity was when Potiphar’s wife fell attracted to Joseph because of his LOOKS. She succumbed to her desires and invited Joseph to have sex with her. But Joseph was adamant in his resolve in keeping pure and continuously walks in righteousness with God. This, however, did not stop Potiphar’s wife from pursuing Joseph.

His most triumphant moment against sexual impurity came when Joseph and Potiphar’s wife were left alone in the house by themselves, without any servant or even Potiphar himself to bear witness to the events about to happen. With this vile opportunity, Potiphar’s wife aggressively embraced Joseph so that, or as she may have thought, Joseph would have no choice but give in to the moment. However, this was not the case. Knowing that his words will not stop the woman anymore, he made a clear decision to run away and not look back to take what he left behind.

Ah such fortitude! He kept his focus on what’s important, his reward in heaven. And despite the fact that he was wrongly accused and was sent to prison, he still revered God and, as a result, was continuously blessed by God. This was again seen by the captain of the guards, who made Joseph in charge of the prison. And so begins another wondrous chapter in Joseph’s life.

And so from that story I came upon this resolution, I urge myself and everyone else, single or married, to keep ourselves pure for God’s blessings to work in us. We should not give in to what the world is offering us but we should focus on our life beyond this world, for this world is only temporary but the kingdom of God reigns forever. And if we should be placed in a precarious situation, we should not be afraid to RUN AWAY!