We had known each other for a year and a half, and from the very first days we had been enjoying the “pleasures” of sex. As a result, we had become very familiar with our bodies, but we did not really know each other. With no opportunity of examining our relationship and ourselves we thought everything was perfect between us. God was then simply an abstract concept, with no real meaning in our lives. Then, suddenly, I experienced a revolution in my view of love. Later Ted did too.

Encouraged by a friend at school, I took part in a youth retreat. For the first time in my life I heard about a living God, who freed people from sin, forgave and bestowed new life. From then on I wanted to live without deceiving God, Ted, or myself. Ted had not taken part in the retreat, but I wanted him to meet the Lord. We continued to sin, giving into our desires, but during the summer holidays we decided we would both take part in a gospel retreat. There we both heard the Good News about the God of Love. We also received great strength from the Holy Spirit. That was a wonderful time for us. We wanted to live in chastity, but first we had to ask Jesus, by the power of His love, to free us from impure desires. We had sunk so deeply into sin, it was hard for us to believe that He could pull us out of the mire. The process of rescue was not easy, or without pain, but when we began earnestly to beg Jesus’ help, He did not disappoint us.

Four months have passed. Since then we have been refraining from sexual activity. This has not been easy, and there have been falls, but now we have Someone, Who can lift us up when we fall. So great is His love that He will not allow sin to take control of our lives.

Christ loves us all, whoever we are. Filled with true love, He is always reaching out to us. Take His hand, and do not fear His desire to enter your relationships, in order to “wreak havoc” there. He wants you to love one another just as He loves you. He wants you to be happy. Do not be afraid of loving truly! Let your body wait, so that after your wedding you may offer it unspoiled to the person you love.

I do not believe God is an enemy of sex. He created it. Only He is entitled to instruct us in its proper use – to say, “do not commit adultery.” God foresaw that using this precious gift at the wrong time and with wrong intentions would cause harm to a person. That is why He intended sex for marriage alone.

 Ted and I are living proof of the great psychological damage wrought by sex misused. Yet Jesus does not want us to suffer. He wants us to be whole. He is now giving us time to solve the problems, which we had not noticed earlier, because our eyes were focused on sex. Above all, Jesus has given us the spirit of sacrifice. We no longer want to treat each other as mere objects of pleasure!

 We have shared this “revolution of love” with you, in the belief that if you seek it, you will also come to enjoy the love of God. We pray for those who are enslaved by sex, that they will allow Jesus to enter into their lives. Let us open the doors of our hearts to Him. He is knocking. As for those who are living their relationships in purity, chastity and unity with Jesus, let them not fear to give witness. Christ has need of their lips, so that others may hear of the pure and authentic love that can exist between a girl and a guy.

 

Sophie & Ted