(The following is an excerpt from Bob Nichols’ book, “How to Change Your Destiny.”)
Notice the final part of his prayer. He cried, “…keep me from evil.” This reminds me of the Lord’s Prayer: “Lead us not into temptation.” Lord, do not let me be led into temptation. Temptation is everywhere. You cannot buy a quart of milk at the convenience store without seeing the suggestive and the sensual. We live in a world that is polluted by filth. And there is something about this prayer that grabbed at my heart. I almost did not read it through. The Lord said, “Wait a minute. Read it all.” Jabez cried, “…keep me from evil.” Just because God is blessing us and great things are happening does not mean we can be soft on sin. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Have you ever watched a marriage being torn apart as by a vicious animal because of sin? Have you ever seen a happily married couple with everything in the world going for them, but one of them began to play with sin; one of them began to believe a lie of Satan? And two happy, beautiful people that have the world at their feet, see their life begin to fall apart because of sin. Unfortunately, there is not much preaching on sin anymore. According to Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” When you play with sin it produces death. When you walk with Jesus the result is life. If you are going to keep your marriage relationship strong you must walk in righteousness.
A strong marriage is very important to me. Joy and I have worked at having a strong marriage over these many years, and I thank God for it. Someone has to stand up and say, “It can be done.” Every time some silly, little nonsensical thing goes wrong you do not run out and slam the door, and go berserk! That is not life – that is television! That is hellish. That is sin! “Well, I can get a divorce for $49.50.” No, you missed the point. It could cost you forty nine thousand dollars and it would still not reflect the true cost of breaking a marriage covenant. I am not speaking words of hurt to those that have had problems in their marriage. Keep your marriage strong. Divorce is not worth it.
If Satan has put a little thought in your head or if there is a little temptation working in you run from like you would run from a wild beast. You do not play with those things, I have dealt with so much of it the last few years. I have seen precious marriages torn into a million pieces because of sin. I have seen precious teenage lives broken in pieces.
Girls, I do not care what a man may promise you until you are married keep your purity. Every man out of matrimony that wants to do anything ungodly to your body is a liar and you tell him I said so! It works both ways, seduction is a two way street. Young people the smartest thing you will ever do is keep your minds and bodies pure. Young woman no man is worth missing God’s best in your life. Young man no woman is worth missing God’s best in your life. Five minutes of pleasure is not worth ruining your life.
I am not trying to be sensational. If I could instant replay the things I have gone through trying to help people you would understand. To me sin is not funny! Sin will make you stupid. Sin will take you further than you intended to go and it will cost you more than you ever intended to pay. Sin does not just hurt you; sin hurts everybody. You say, “It is my business what I do.” No, it is everybody’s business because sin hurts everybody. Anybody who sins hurts more than just themselves.
The Psalmist, David, whom I love dearly, was a man after God’s own heart. Thank God that when Samuel pointed his finger and said, “Thou art the man,” David was man enough to fall on his face before God and pray the powerful prayer, “Have mercy on me, O God.” There is forgiveness for sin. The tragedy is that so many people say, “Well, there is forgiveness, so what? Big deal! I will sin and get forgiveness later.” But before long their conscience is seared as with a hot iron. Then they think they can sleep anywhere, drink anything, do anything, watch anything, and feel that they have a biblical excuse for it. The devil will provide an excuse if you are looking for one! It is not about what you can get away with! Just because God has not let the sky fall in on you does not mean you are getting away with what you are doing. The Bible says, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart” (Psalms 24:3-4). I say to every minister and every young couple: keep yourself pure. What you fantasize, you will get involved with; Satan will see to it.
If you have seen the ravages of alcohol, like Joy and I have seen in our families, you would stay far away from drinking. I had an uncle that could have been anything in life. He was one of the most talented men that I ever met, but he died at age 55 because of alcoholism. My uncle had a good heart, but he gave himself to things that destroyed his life. I could tell you a lot of stories much like this. It all started with compromise, a little slip, a little slide, a little drink here, a little drink there and ended up with another shipwrecked life. If you drink a little, you will drink more.
You can feel temptation coming on. Just a casual meeting, a casual glance, conversation and chemistry kicks in. You know what is going on. Do what Joseph did! Run if you have to! Do not stand there and wallow in it and then say, “I just do not know what happened to me.” Someone else might say, “Well, I do not know what I would do if I was caught in that situation!” I will tell you what you are going to do. You are going to take the path of least resistance. Make your decision now what you are going to do. I have had to walk away from certain friends in the ministry over the years because I have made up my mind I am going to have God’s best. Satan has every kind of a trap in the world to trip you up. Get smart! Be wise! Jabez said, if I am ever going to break out of this born-to-lose syndrome; I need God’s hand to be with me. Oh, God, deliver me from evil and the grief that it brings.