Still thinking about Governor Mark Sanford’s meltdown, I ran across Matt’s post on the results of sin. He had a video of Casting Crown’s song, “Slow Fade” and I thought it was apropos to his situation, but also for us all. Because there but the grace of God go I.
“People never crumble in a day.” That is very true. Sanford or any man or woman who have had an affair have jumped from being happily married into the bed of another. It’s a process. With some it starts with pornography. Others will develop a close relationship with a member of the opposite sex. Some may start thinking, oh I wish my spouse could be more like him or her, etc.
You see Governor Sanford crossed the line way before he actually committed adultery. It is reported he met this lady at an open air dance club in Uruguay. Why was he at an open air dance club in Uruguay? Especially without his wife?
Flirting… lingering touch on the shoulder… confiding about marital problems… it is a slow fade into adultery.
In Genesis, the LORD gives Cain a warning, “…sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it,” (Genesis 4:7, ESV). Watch out. It’s lurking in the shadows. It comes in many forms. It won’t appear in the form of an adulteress at first, but usually as a computer image or a coworker who cares.
Guys, especially, remember that we need to “Keep (or guard) your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life,” (Proverbs 4:23, ESV). We need to put up hedges to guard against this, because that big jump into an affair is preceded by little steps.