Intimacy's Enemy

On September 11, 2001, America changed. The events of one horrendous day opened our eyes to the fact that we were disliked. Hated, in fact. So much so that people were willing to destroy their lives if in the process it meant destroying ours.

We've all changed. We've all become aware of ideologies that oppose us. In the years that have followed 9/11, we've lost some freedoms, gone through more rigorous security checkpoints when doing things like traveling and the like, but mostly, we've been enlightened to an ideology that considers us a "destroy-at-all-costs enemy."

Did you know that there is an enemy that wants your sex? You may be going along just fine, pre- 9/11, oblivious to the ideology that has set itself up against you. Or maybe you know he is there, so you've given him some turf and hope he stays in his corner.

He won't.

This enemy is in such opposition that he doesn't care if his own demise is part of yours. As long as he takes you with him, he is happy.

He wants you to stay hopeless, apathetic, ho-hum. He wants you to stay fearful. He wants you to *think* you have him penned up in a little corner where he can't invade other areas of your life and spirituality.

He is a liar and the father of lies, remember that.

In his book, Undefiled: Redemption From Sexual Sin, Restoration For Broken Relationships, author and sex counselor Harry Schaumburg says, "To be spiritually mature, you must be sexually mature; to be sexually mature, you must be spiritually mature."

Sex is the most intimate act in the marriage relationship and it is to reflect a most sacred and intimate interaction we as the bride of Christ have with our bridegroom. The enemy wants to mess that up. If he can just convince us to stop trying, or that it doesn't matter, or that it is too scary, or that we are too vulnerable, or that sexual impurity really isn't that big of a deal, then he has us. WE are the one who is fenced in and cornered.

John Piper, quoted in the above book Undefiled, says, "Sexuality is designed by God as a way to know God in Christ more fully."

It's true, and a truth Christians need to wake up to.

I wish I could tell you all about the journey the Lord has taken me on in this area. I wish I could tell you the years I spent fearful, apathetic, and stuggling with impurity. Then you would believe me. Since I can't tell you all that in one sitting, please take me on these two things:

1. A surrendered spirit- or lack thereof- is demonstrated no where better than the marriage bed. If the enemy can get us un-surrendered in this area, he has a foothold in our lives...and our spouses lives.

2. Regardless of our past, our present, what our spouses bring to the marriage bed, or what we struggle with ourselves, God intends for us to thrive in the promised land in this area of sexuality. The enemy wants to keep us wandering in the wilderness, comfortable in our current state or fearful to go in and take possesion of the land.

Regardless of what issue you face sexually, there is victory! I KNOW that. I am living it. It doesn't come without some hard fought battles; but Jesus is the One who "always leads us in triumph!"

The enemy has recently come to me wanting to take back the ground he has lost. He certainly wants me to keep silent about it! But I'm not giving it back. This promised land was intended for me and my husband, and I am keeping it. How about you?
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This post was originally shared on my personal blog in March 2009.It has been modified for AZ.