Tonight I was reminded of an email I wrote to Pastor John in response to a TFE (or Thought for the Evening) back in 2005. I don't really know what made me think of this, but I wanted to post it on here because it is a very good thought. My generation and the ones after me are being bombarded with immorality and it is so sad. No one growing up now can imagine something happening like what happened with Sister Dell knowing who she was going to marry by a signature, it would be just a fairy tale to them, something that Disney would make up. It just encourages me to want to continue doing what is right and living my life in God! Over the past few years I have had some great examples of this TFE and I am thankful for that.
Thought for the Evening
12-13
One Result Of Purity: Knowing Whom To Marry
From conversations with old saints in the late 1970's My father, who was born in 1901, told me when I was a young man in the 1970's that young people of his generation, and of the generation before his, often could tell who they were to marry when they first met. Then, he added that a generation such as mine, a very immoral one, could not do that. When young people live an immoral lifestyle, it warps the spirit and the perceptive abilities. Moral purity carries benefits that an immoral generation cannot even perceive, much less value. In years past, I have talked about this to some young people who just shook their heads as if to suggest that for anyone to be able to know who God intended to be your mate when you first meet is a fantasy from some romance novel. But it is not.
Sister Dell Lancaster, an old saint who was born in the late 1800's and is now gone to be with Jesus, once told me that when she was a young woman, she saw a young man's handwriting and knew that whoever he was, he was the man whom she would marry. When she saw the handwriting, she had not yet even met him, and still, she knew in her heart that she had found the man whom she would marry! The couple soon were introduced, married shortly thereafter, and had four children. A fairy tale? Not for Sister Dell.
There are many blessings available from God for any generation that has respect for His commandments, whether or not that generation has been taught proper Biblical doctrine. God blesses the respect that anyone shows His Son; that is how much He loves Jesus. That is also the reason that this country, and Western Culture in general, has made such incredible medical, technological, and philosophic advances over the centuries. It has not been that whites are intrinsically better than blacks or reds; rather, it is that Western countries are historically the countries where the name of Jesus has been proclaimed and honored, and in response, God has poured out blessings that are staggering to consider, even if the gospel has been abused and misused for some men's personal gain at times.
Young person, make up your mind to go with God and to trust Him fully to let you know who you are to marry and when. You may not do as Sister Dell did and know from a mere signature whom you will marry (that kind of thing certainly did not happen to everyone of her generation), but if you live the way God commands us all to live, you will be kept from making big mistakes. And in a pampered, self-indulgent, and immoral generation such as this one, a young person who does not make big mistakes has been very blessed of God.
Keep yourself pure, young person, and God will keep you safe. That is one of the many benefits of purity.
Pastor John,
I just wanted to say thank you for the TFE from 12-13: One Result of Purity: Knowing Whom To Marry. I know I've heard you tell that story about Sister Dell before, but it was different this time for me, it was like I heard it for the first time. After reading this TFE I wanted to give it to several people I knew. Reading it brought back to mind two conversations I heard in the past few months about people choosing to "live together." In both cases, the two women talking said, "I used to be against people living together before they got married, but now it just seems to make sense because [if you do,] you know what you are getting into when you do get married." I was in shock after hearing that. I guess it just shows what kind of world we are living in. Again, thank you for the TFE, it was really good.
Jamie G
Dear Jamie, I am glad that you believe the truth and are keeping yourself. Life is too short to live it the wrong way.
Pastor John
