Sexual freedom is an illusion, because immorality is not as pretty as it seems.
But in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
Sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death;
Her steps follow the path to Sheol;
She does not ponder the path of life;
Her ways wander, and she does not know it (Prov 5:4-6).
Last week, we saw that the “adulteress” is an image of all sexual immorality. Immorality has a sweet candy coating, but inside it’s a bitter pill (Prov 5:4). “Wormwood” is a plant with a bitter taste, and that’s what immorality is once you move past first impressions. I know a guy who works for a chemical company that works on both drugs and candy. He told me that the outer shell on an M&M is the same thing as the shell on an Advil. Next time you have the chance, I dare you to bite into the Advil.
Immorality leads only to death (Prov 5:5). The last thing it has in mind is our good (Prov 5:6a). In fact, it’s not even aware of the harm it causes (Prov 5:6b). Immorality is full of passion, but it’s clueless and self-defeating, like a pimply freshman inviting the homecoming queen over for video gaming.
How does this apply? Sexual immorality promises life, but the wise know it really gives death. We ought to be ready, especially for the battle of words. We have to expose immorality’s sweet-talk. We must remind ourselves of the truth. We need to discuss it often with others, to warn them. We unhinge its power when we strip it of its secrecy.
Consider just one major issue in our day: online pornography. Note how broad are the battle lines and how widespread is the death:
- The porn industry makes around $97 billion per year.
- 87% of men report watching porn at least weekly.
- It’s not a “guy issue,” though. It mostly just goes unreported among women.
- Half of all teenagers have seen online porn by age 15.
- Though only 4% of all website are pornographic, those sites draw 13% of all web searches and 20% of all mobile searches.
- About 40 million Americans visit porn sites regularly.
- About 68% of the general population report using porn. Among Christians, about 54% report porn use.
- All this despite the accessibility of published research demonstrating the correlation of porn use with poor mental health, declining sexual fulfillment, increased divorce, and domestic violence.
Death surrounds us, and it’s covered in pretty makeup and stage lighting. We must discuss it frankly yet graciously, for no one who indulges in it will go unharmed.
This post was first published in 2013 and is part of a series walking through Proverbs 1-9.
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