I have concern for our young people and their lack of boundaries. One young celebrity after the other seeks to out-shock the last and our youth laugh and follow their lead. There is total disregard for the body being the temple of God; it is put on crude display in one disgusting way after the other.

Yesterday a young man, a cashier in a department store, asked as he was checking me out if I was “very religious.”  When I replied that I was, he asked why there was such concern in the religious community for chastity. “Why is it such a big deal?” he asked.  The curious part of this conversation is we were total strangers. I cannot imagine what brought on such a question to an unknown customer and yet he seemed waiting to ask it of someone. So I told him why there was value in remaining pure—and he listened. He seemed intensely interested in what I had to say and said he hoped he hadn’t offended me. I told him that he had not and I was glad he had asked.

I left the store wondering “what on earth was that?” My heart tells me it was a God-ordained moment. It was a huge risk for an employee to approach a customer the way he did, so I think he must have been truly wrestling with the question, and for some time. There was no one else around, so it gave him opportunity for a discussion. I know it was bearing on his mind because of how he pressed forward with his need to talk. Before he said anything, he laughed rather nervously and said he wanted to say something, but he didn’t want to offend me. I suggested that when in doubt, don’t. But he did anyway. I didn’t preach, I simply explained the difference in casual sex and keeping oneself for one person and the ecstasy in so doing that could never be found any other way. I asked if he wouldn’t want that for himself and he immediately nodded yes. He commented that it probably deepened a couple’s commitment to staying married. He received the message.

A 70-year-old woman and a young man around 19, I would guess; unknown to one another, having a very bizarre conversation, totally unplanned.  God sure has His moments with us, doesn’t He?

“Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.”

Ephesians 4:19 NIV