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
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