God’s commands: My Safety

Growing up, my parents and elders would share teachings from the Bible: “do not lie” or “do not have sex before marriage” and the like. Being a typical adolescent, I would constantly see these “rules” merely as a way to keep us in line. To control us.

The rebel in me couldn’t wait to leave home and live my life the way I wanted to, making my own rules, and finally being set free from the “tyrannical rule” of my parents and church. Yet as I matured, I realized that these were put in place to protect us from very real and dangerous outcomes

Now, I look at God’s commands with more respect, realizing it is for my prosperity and not my limitation. I try to keep his commands knowing they will save me from future destruction. Easier said than done, right? These are some of the things I’ve learned:

1. Being truthful: This doesn’t only refer to lying. It also means withholding information, sugar coating truths, white lies, and applying a soft “filter” over how you are portrayed in stories. When we consciously portray a false image, we unconsciously put ourselves in constant fear of being “caught out”. And while a minor twist of words might be small now, these all pile up in your spirit. Eventually, it grows into deep anxiety and trust issues. We have created this air-brushed version of ourselves, thus making us feel like everyone else is hiding something as well. It destroys relationships and ultimately ourselves. This is why we find ourselves avoiding friends when we are broke. Or hiding away parts of our lives that don’t align with the image we have shown to our peers.

2. Not having sex outside of marriage or cheating on my partner: Well, the most obvious reasons would be avoiding STI/STDs, unwanted pregnancy, causing children to grow up in a broken home and just downright pain caused for your partner. But we can take it deeper. While we might feel that our love for our partners is so deep that having sex is validated, it potentially and eventually becomes destructive.

We as humans crave permanence when sexually active with someone. That is why breaking up with someone you’ve had sex with is so much harder to heal from. And that’s why we stay longer in toxic relationships. Our body, mind, and spirit have already bonded with this person. So when your mind realizes the relationship is not healthy, your body and spirit keep you there. It is a physical AND emotional AND spiritual connection.

We share such depth during the act that it breaks us to know our partner shared the same with someone else. This is why sex within marriage is so much more intense. The commitments and promises have been made to each other. I feel safe in your embrace. Not doubtful because of the possibility of you leaving.

These are just some of the commands that our society has taught us to overlook. We give in to our desires for sex and pride. We chase orgasms. We paint ourselves as someone who we are not. Remember, God isn’t stopping us from having sex (which He himself created) but rather he keeps us safe from potential pain when it is done nonchalantly.

I urge us all to read Matthew chapters 5-7 and consider the teachings of Jesus Christ. Let us overcome the destructive and carnal nature of the world. Let us enter into the upside kingdom of Jesus. Seek his kingdom and live in the king’s safety. It is for our own benefit.