Virginity vs. Purity - Part 1

As a former counselor and as a youth pastor's wife, I have seen and heard all sorts of stories, but one sad story that I hear often pertains to Christian girls who make a stand for virginity but are far from pure.

(And I know this is difficult. When I was a single Christian young lady, I had these temptations as well.)

We make the commitment to be virgins until we are married but we don't make the commitment to be pure and so we are like the Pharisees in the Bible.  On the outside we look "spiritual" and white and pure, but inside we are full of rotten sin.

Matthew 23:27 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness."

Why does this happen? 

How can we have both purity and virginity? 

I don't think I have to tell you how to remain a virgin, but to be pure, you have to have a different mindset. 

Your mind is not on virginity, if you will do "everything"
but the actual act of sexual intercourse.  That is not purity; this is FAR from what God had in mind.

Many times young ladies are one extreme or the other. 

One extreme does everything but "connect the dots", while the other extreme is scared that if they touch the opposite sex they will get pregnant. 

Let's go back to the scripture that can be a hot topic in churches...

If you read Paul's Epistle, I Corinthians 7:1 it says "Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman."

The "touch" in greek there, means "sexual touch."  It's a touch that starts a fire.  It's the touch that makes you want a little more.  It's the spark that makes your mind get smokey and you become unable to think.

This is what I would encourage you to pray and think about. What makes you tick?  What are the touches that are sexual?  Does a peck on the cheek send you off the deep end?  Or a kiss on the lips? What about holding hands? What about when he puts his hand on your back or on your leg? 

Pray.  Ask God to show you and know yourself. Decide to set your boundaries at a place that is before you get all smokey and it becomes "too late". 

Furthermore, your relationship with another person (of either sex) should really draw you closer to Jesus.  This is the point  of everything if you are a Christian.  Jesus is the goal. 

If you are all "into"each other and all over each other, is that drawing you to Jesus or each other?  Ask your self that question. Know yourself. 

...and what about your mind?  Are you fantasizing about each other? Purity is full body. Loving God includes your whole body.

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. - Matthew 22:37

Philippians 4:8 says "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

I understand the hormones, I get the "security" and the right desires of having a man in your life. ...but NO man's love will EVER satisfy you like the love of Jesus.  Surrender to intimacy with Him. 

Focus your eyes on Jesus Christ. Ask Him to lead you to your partner for this world.  Jesus is your Prince... your husband is just a bonus.  Build a solid relationship with Jesus now.

It's about purity, ladies, not virginity and it's about a really intimate relationship....with Jesus. - Rejoicing in the Present