Given what Scripture says here about the destructive nature of this sin, how can we appoint to positions of leadership in our country those who have fallen in this way? How can we listen to those who say, it is possible to compartmentalise human behaviour, so that the adulterer can be trusted to be completely honest in other areas of life? The human heart does not have these walls within it, but unfaithfulness in one area affects all other areas.
What are the antidotes to this sin? The obvious antidote to even the beginning of that departure is the duty to love each other in outflowing expressions of kindness. When it occurs it is one of those very avoidable sins. When there is a sin of this sort, there must have been a failure for a very long time. Put away the smallest earliest thought. God hates that festering in the heart, but then we cross the boundary line and do the unthinkable thing. It is the smashing of a boundary, the abdication of all serious interest in a relationship. There may be ill temper husband and wife so that they temporarily harbour hatred and hostility, however there is a no-man’s-land over which they will not cross. But if they will walk into that no-man’s-land and spend days thinking about someone else, they are already committing adultery. That is a high fence that God has put around you. Maybe a day or two later we see how foolish we’ve been, and we thank God that he kept that fence in place. There is no reason for any to go across that boundary.
How can we be sure we will never be tempted in this direction? We must not weaken ourselves. Maybe there is a good relationship, but person fails to exercise self-control in other areas. He eats what he likes, turns on the television or internet, never denies himself a possession, or a time of recreation. You will become so weak you will be tempted and you won’t be able to bridle your temper, because you never practice self-denial.
In marriage people are called to trust each other. There should never be any underhand disloyalty. Is that a restriction on us? No, it leads to peace and security. If not for trust there would never be any peace. It leads to deeper ties and experiences. God puts restrictions in place because they give rise to great happiness; they protect us from our temper and also from loneliness.