The Apostle Paul said that  being a Christian single is a gift. He knew what he was talking about. I say that because almost every day of the last ten-plus years, I’ve been blessed to be able to have my total attention upon the Lord. To have a girlfriend or a wife at this time would be a distraction. She would be in the way of my pursuing the things that the Lord has laid upon my heart.

Though this is not to say that now and then I don’t think about having a mate. I do; and most especially when I go to church. To see a boyfriend/girlfriend or husband/wife sitting together worshiping the Lord sometimes makes me want the same thing. But then, praise the Lord, the feeling quickly goes away.

I say praise the Lord because it’s by surrendering to His powerful grace that I’ve been able, for the most part, to be immune to my past life which, germane to this topic, included being a sex addict. I said “for the most part ” because there were a couple of times in the first few months of my conversion that I didn’t call on the Lord and I backslid.

Terrible time that was too, having one foot in the world and one foot in the church. Talk about tension—Whew! Talk about being a hypocrite—Ouch! Who wants to live like that? I didn’t, and especially when I remembered the peace I left behind that I had with the Lord.

There was one other time that I didn’t call on the Lord to help me escape temptation. And this was just a few months ago when I wasn’t watching and praying. The person I used to be rose up in me after all these years and I had every intention to play out the temptation. And what makes this so bad is that it wasn’t a spur of the moment temptation, but one in which I had time to plan for.

I knew it was wrong, but I rationalized it away by thinking I was justified after so many years; surely God would understand and forgive me afterwards.

Imagine that. I was ready to take for granted God’s faithfulness to cleanse me.

But I didn’t go through with it, though I had wanted to. I didn’t do it because I had asked a brother in Christ, without mentioning the details, to pray for me because I was facing a temptation. I believe it was God, working through my brother’s prayer, that didn’t let the temptation overwhelm me.

What happened is that the Holy Spirit confronted me and brought to remembrance the excitement I experienced when, about a year ago, I read for maybe the umpteenth time 2 Cor. 5: 21; and was struck for the first time that the meaning of life was in that scripture. That realization, with such a bang; such a finality; was that Jesus died for me so that I would have the opportunity to become the actual righteousness of God Himself. The Spirit reminded me of my joyfully sharing this discovery with others. Then He asked me if I was serious about wanting to take Him up on the opportunity to become His righteousness, or was I just blowing smoke. You know my answer.

So except for those few bumps in the road, truly I say that being a Christian single is a gift of pure joy. To not have to be conformed to how most singles in the world live, is in Jesus a freeing experience.

Perhaps the time will come when it’s right for me to have a wife. If that were to happen, God will bring her into my life. And I’m certain that experience would also be enriching. However, should that not occur; I know that I can, through God’s grace, be empowered to stay content with the companionship and intimacy of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

To God be the glory! Amen.