Once you turn away from the false world of pornographic images, you won’t find a God who is waiting to hammer you with shame and condemnation. As in the parable of the lost son, when you turn toward God you will find a caring Father who embraces you with love and showers you with forgiveness (Luke 15:22-24). And He doesn’t stop there. Similar to the father of the prodigal, God will restore a repentant man to his original position of honor and significance by giving him the privilege of playing a vital role in His larger story of rescue and renewal.
God’s larger story is of epic proportions. Good is in a constant war against evil; danger lurks at every turn; and sacrificial, glorious works wait to be done. And whether we are aware of it or not, we find ourselves living in the middle of it.
[W]hen you turn toward God you will find a caring Father who embraces you with love and showers you with forgiveness
It’s exciting to realize that there are bigger things happening all around us. Even more thrilling is that we get to join in the action. We are not meant to be passive spectators who merely read and know about the facts of God’s story. We are called to be participants in the great drama that is unfolding (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).
When you were tangled and lost in an X-rated world, you learned to settle for so little. But the further from porn you get, the more in touch you will be with the deeper things of life. Regardless of your job or your financial means or even your moral failures, you will find in God’s story a renewed direction for your life (Jeremiah 29:11). You will begin to see yourself as a husband, or father, or friend, or neighbor in a new and exciting way.
God calls you to reengage in His story and to plug back into the redemption and restoration that are coursing through the drama. Even though past choices to indulge in porn may cause you to suffer some painful consequences, God still invites you to join in the mission and adventure of laying yourself on the line for a cause greater than your own interests (2 Corinthians 5:15).
[T]he further from porn you get, the more in touch you will be with the deeper things of life.
Being given the honor of partnering with God in advancing His kingdom will pump a sense of life and purpose back into your heart. Just think of it! The King of kings summons you to be a warrior who fights to see others rescued, restored, and released for His kingdom.
With time and careful reflection, you will start to gain more insight into God’s unique purpose for your life. As you pay close attention to those good things that make you feel alive or the parts of life that scare you or break your heart, you will begin to see more clearly where you are called to serve and to attempt great things for God. Whether it involves a love for the outdoors or the arts, an injustice or heartache that you or someone close to you has suffered, or even a certain activity you vowed never to try again, these will begin to define where God will summon you to deploy your strength and compassion for others and for Him.
God’s story is no ordinary story. And while playing your role in it can be risky and will take some getting used to, engaging in what matters for eternity turns life into the meaningful adventure it truly is. You will begin to see that the freedom and life you have been searching for in all the wrong places is found in an intimate friendship with Jesus Christ (John 15:15).
Following Jesus will take you in directions where the stakes are high. But the real danger is to ignore His call. The truth is that it’s only in and through Jesus that you can find forgiveness and the spiritual enablement to really live.
