This week, I read three things that inspired me to write this blog:
1) R. Kelly is finally going to trial for the alleged sex tape with a minor. (Can you believe that charge is six-years-old?!?)
2) The porn company, Vivid Entertainment announced that it has a porn tape that is believed to be of the late legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix and two women (although his estate claims that the information is false). There is actually a link to the trailer, but being that this is a website that addresses porn addiction, I didn’t think posting it would be the most responsible thing to do. (Keep in mind that Hendrix died in 1970.)
3) Fomer NBA great Karl Malone has a son that most people didn’t know about. He’s a recent NBA draft pick by the name of Demetrius Bell (Buffalo Bills). What a lot of people also do not know is that Demetrius’ mother was between 12-13 years of age when she became impregnated by Malone, who was 20 at the time. Malone has had no relationship with his son.
OK, so where am I going with this? It’s pretty simple but also pretty potent. Something that God put into my psyche around this time last year is that when the Bible says that we reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7-8), there is no expiration date on that promise.
The good side to this is that when we plant/sow good into the Earth/others, we continue to reap. The not-so-great flip of the coin to this revelation is that when we plant/sow things that are not so good, it may be weeks, months, years before we stop reaping the consequences of those choices…just ask R. Kelly, Jimi Hendrix’s estate holders and Karl Malone.
That’s the tricky thing about how the Enemy operates. In tempting us (I Corinthians 10:13), he boldly shows the act, and yet, interestingly enough, when it comes to the consequences, he tends to shy away from revealing those.
Have sex with him just this once. It won’t hurt anyone.
Rent that video in that hotel room. You’re on a business trip. Who will ever know?
You’re not cheating on your husband just because you don’t tell him about all of the luncheons you are having with your (male) co-worker. It’s not like you’re sleeping with him or anything.
Now, I’m not even going to presume what will happen should you indulge in scenarios like these, but that’s kind of my point. YOU DON’T KNOW SO IT’S A BIG GAMBLE. Besides, it’s been my personal experience that since the Enemy’s agenda is to “steal, kill and destroy” (John 10:10) me, then when he tempts me, it’s not because he’s my buddy that’s looking out for my best interests. It’s usually because he has a trap in mind.
I don’t know who this message is for, but I know God wanted me to share it for a reason. My mother often says that discernment prevents experience from being your teacher. Do you really think that R. Kelly thought he might go to prison for doing sexually inappropriate things to a child? Do you think that Jimi Hendrix would have dreamed that a sex tape would be released 38 YEARS after his death? Do you think Karl Malone planned on getting a preteen pregnant? (Lord, I hope not!)
Whatever you’re tempted to do today, this week, next week, before jumping in, please reread this blog.
A few moments really can last a lifetime.