THE BIBLE STILL HAS A MESSAGE FOR TODAY

The Bible is relevant for today. Its message is the answer to every problem we face today. The Bible's answer may not be politically correct nor will its instructions be followed by sinful men, but that does not change the correctness of the Biblical teaching.

One major problem we face today is the spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus. People with the HIV virus develop Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) that does damage to the body's immune system, rendering it unable to defend itself against infections. These infections normally would not pose a threat to healthy individuals, but a person with AIDS is more prone to repeated infections and a number of rare cancers, thereby weakening the body. People with AIDS die!  NO effective treatment, cure, or vaccine for AIDS is yet available.

How is HIV transmitted? HIV is usually transmitted through sexual contact or shared needles. Babies of HIV infected pregnant women have about a 50% chance of being infected during pregnancy, delivery and nursing. People who received blood transfusions between 1977 and 1985 are at much greater risk for HIV than those who received transfusions after 1985, when more effective blood screening was introduced. HIV can also be spread through organ transplants and the donation- of sperm. Occupational exposure and infection can result from needle stick injury or the mishandling of infected blood, body fluids or organs.

Who are the risk groups? While people may be at risk from occupational exposure, blood transfusions and organ and sperm donations, people in the following groups are currently at greater risk: gay and bisexual men who are sexually active and not monogamous, users of intravenous drugs who share needles, sexual partners (male and female) of people in risk groups, and sexual partners of people with HIV. Infection takes just one exposure with someone who may or may know they are HIV positive.

What is the world's solution to this problem? Lip service is given to abstinence, but in general their advice is, "practice safe sex."  The practice of safe sex is not a Biblical solution. Intravenous drug users are provided with clean needles.  This may help protect the drug user, But it does not protect people, families and communities that are being destroyed by the high crime rates that drug use produces. Giving needles to drug users is not a Biblical solution. If the Biblical moral mandate had been followed, we would not have a HIV problem that has developed into AIDS.

What is the Biblical solution? The Biblical solution comes from abstaining from practices God calls sinful.  They are adultery (Exodus 20:4), fornication (Galatians 5:19), homosexuality (Romans 1:25-28), and drug abuse (1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; 6:12, 19, 20; 10:23).

God loves all men and women regardless of what they do. Because He loves them, He does not condone sinful practices. A lifestyle contrary to God's standards is evidence of a person's need to be born again. Being born again is a Biblical mandate, for the Bible says, "Ye must be born again." (John 3: 3) To be born again, one must recognize that he is unable to save himself (Romans 3:23), that Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary in his place (1 Peter 2:24), and that by confession of his sin (Romans 10:9, 10) he can be a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

As a child of God, one will willingly submit to God's authority and God's Word in his life. One will abstain from the lifestyle that God forbids. Depending on his problem, one will either refrain from the use of illicit intravenous drugs or enter a monogamous marriage relationship with the woman God has given for life. Yes, the old-fashioned moral code of scripture which sets forth the permanence of marriage and the sinfulness of premarital sex, extramarital sex, and homosexual activity is not really old­ fashioned but relevant for today. The answer is not safe sex, but Biblically approved sex.

Frankly, if a person does not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as their Savior, I don't believe they will accept the message of the Bible concerning illicit drugs and sexual practices. The rejection of God and His Son, Jesus Christ, also means the rejection of His Word, the Bible. "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."  (Proverbs 14:12)