More than any other time in the years I have been on this earth, we find our children and grandchildren being bombarded with temptations far beyond what confronted us when we were young. Not to say that we lived in a pure society, but we, in general, were more conscience of keeping ourselves pure. Today, in our world, sex is being exploited with practically "no holds barred." Young men and ladies dress (undress) in such a fashion that it entices others to lust. Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 2:22: "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." Just recently, we learned that two young ladies in their early teens, attending our High School, are pregnant. Sad but true, they have given up their teen years to take care of their babies.

A few years ago, an article appeared in the Ann Landers column that I believe should be given to every young boy and girl to carry with them as they reach the age of dating. It reads:

"My girlfriend and I are high school seniors. She was three weeks late last month, and we were scared stiff. Thank the Lord she was not pregnant. I sat down, thought about what we were doing, and asked myself the following questions. 1) Does she like kids? (No, she doesn't.) 2) Does she want to be married? (Yes, but only because she would love to get out of the house.) 3) Is she immature? (Yes, she is impatient and doesn't consider the consequences of her impetuous decisions.) 4) Is she ready to be tied down? (Absolutely not.) 5) Is she ready for diapers, cooking, and housework? (No way.)

"Then I asked myself the following questions about me: 1) Do I like kids? (Only if they belong to someone else.) 2) Do I want to be married? (Not for a few years.) 3) Am I ready to sit home at night with a wife and kids? (No.) 4) Am I ready for rent, insurance, car payments, doctor's bills, sick kids, dentist's bills, etc. (No way could I handle it. I'm still in high school.) 5) Am I mature enough to be a good father? (I don't think so.) 6) What would my folks say if I told them my girlfriend was pregnant? (This is a nightmare I don't want to think about.)

"I am 17, and my girlfriend is 16. Every time we get in the mood to go to bed, we stop and read this list of questions. Believe me, it cools things off real quick.

"Maybe other teen-agers who are ... not thinking about the consequences will benefit from reading this. Signed: Relieved and Feeling Lucky in Long Island." -4898 Oroszy Aye, Lorain, OH 44055.

(Editor's note: We thank Bob for this good article. It is sad these young people do not have someone to tell them that even though they never become pregnant, never have any children, never have to leave school, never have to be "tied down", never have to tell their parents what they have done, never have to change diapers, cook, or do housework, never have any "bad" consequences when they commit fornication, they defile their bodies in sin. Fornication is a sin against their own bodies; it is a work of the flesh that will cause them to lose their souls forever in hell if they remain un-repentant and un-forgiven. The really bad consequences are spiritual not physical. Yes, the world is lying in sin. Yet, God remains faithful in this generation, too. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13. May we help our youth to look for the way of escape in Christ.)

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