Message summary: In life there is a time to flee.

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“But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house” (Genesis 39:12). “From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her” (2 Samuel 11:2,3). “Flee from sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18). “Keep yourself pure” (1 Timothy 5:22). “But thou, O man of God, flee these things” (1 Timothy 6:11).

Many of you celebrated Father's Day over the weekend as a father, grandfather and/or with your own father. As a pastor I always looked forward to Father's Day when I would speak more directly to men on that particular Sunday. One Father's Day I issued a challenge to our men to rise up as men of God and used the solemn charge of Paul to Timothy expressed in today's final Scripture portion. My main points were Flee, Follow and Fight, so I would like to visit those three points again starting with the first positive command which is to flee.

A tragic choice is generally preceded by several less tragic or even seemingly innocuous choices. A man overcoming an addiction to alcohol is clean for a year. He’s out driving and passes a street leading to a bar he used to frequent. He turns down the street just to check things out. He comes to the bar and decides to turn in the parking lot just to see if any of his friend’s cars are there. He then decides just to go in and just say “Hi” to his friends. Next thing you know he has “fallen off the wagon” and resumed his drinking. He would have been much better off “fleeing the scene” rather than enter the street leading to the bar!

In life there is a time to flee. Today let’s look at this matter, particularly in regard to sexual temptation. Due to our God-ordained hormonal constitution people in every generation have dealt with sexual temptation from the earliest chapters of the Bible.

One of the most admirable examples of victory over sexual temptation is Joseph. The Bible tells his story in Genesis 39 and today’s first text records the essence of this victory. Joseph was being seduced by Potiphar’s wife and he recognized God’s commands, “How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?” (v. 9). Rather than succumb to temptation he ran, “But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.” He still faced consequences but knew in his heart that he did the right thing.

The Bible is quite transparent about the victories and failures of Bible characters with David’s adultery perhaps being the most familiar. Today’s second text records the essence of what led to his moral failure: “From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her.” Rather than further exploring who Bathsheba is David should have fled the scene visually, mentally and physically!

Certainly there have been people in every generation who practiced sexual immorality; some engaging in pre-marital sex, adulterous unfaithfulness in marriage and a small segment engaged in sodomy. Of course we now have the entire gamut of sexual rebellion against God's design now called LGBTQIA+ for those who keep up with the madness. With the exception of the most uncivilized cultures this was known to be wrong, even by the participants.

But today we face a situation far more intense and distinct from what most in previous generations faced. There is a flood of material from the entertainment industry condoning and even glamorizing immorality, much of it as close as a smart phone or tablet. In many cases it’s acceptable and celebrated in public schools and by government agencies. In contrast, there is a parallel sense by popular culture that condemns those who maintain a Biblical outlook on morality. We are seen as unenlightened, old-fashioned and intolerant and even hateful.

This condoning of the bad and condemning of the good did not took place in previous generations. In fact it was the reverse! Marriage as defined in the Bible was presented as normal, healthy, and expected of those who took the solemn oath of marriage. The Bible was revered by most and its teaching held sacred. Sexual immorality was wrong and understood to be sinful behavior.

But we have entered an age when good is called evil and evil is called good (see Isaiah 5:20).

Some of you reading this today have engaged in sexual immorality in the past but have repented and have found that the purifying scrub brush of the Holy Spirit brings renewal, cleansing and an invitation to start over according to God’s design. Some of you are fighting this battle even as you read this. You know in your heart this message is for you.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Flee from sexual immorality.” Today we need to practice, maintain, and proclaim the Biblical teachings. Those who do so will be increasingly reviled, but that doesn't change God's commands for believers.

Our word of encouragement today is to stay faithful in word and deed to God’s teachings. “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised” (Hebrews 10:35,36).

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13.

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber