From then on, Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” (Matthew 4:17)

I ask you, how could a man as godly as David fall as far as he did with Bathsheba? How could he be responsible for murdering a man on the battlefield? How could he live the life of a hypocrite for almost a year? How could David do that? He’s our hero! He’s that faithful shepherd! He’s the giant killer!

The answer is going to sound terribly familiar—he is depraved. He has a nature that will never improve. He has lust, just like every man and every woman reading these words right now. And he yielded to it. As lust played its sweet song, the king of Israel danced to the music. He was responsible, just as you and I are every time we yield. Like Noah and Moses, David’s lapse into sin left him vulnerable to its consequences. When depravity wins a victory, many get hurt...not just the one who is most responsible. Never forget that!

Most of us have been down the pike far enough to know that we cannot trust our sinful nature. Heed this word of counsel: Don’t get yourself in a situation where your nature takes charge. If you are weakened by lust when you are with the opposite sex, you have to keep yourself out of those tempting situations where you will yield. If you play around the fire, it’s only a matter of time. It won’t be “if” but “when.” And make no mistake about it, it will be your fault because you played the fool. And I can assure you, others will be burned in the same fire.

And, may I add, if you are in ministry and doing that, clean up your life or get out of the ministry. Do everyone else in ministry a favour, if you refuse to repent...just step out of the ministry and say, “I have sinned. I have forfeited the right to lead a flock. I’ve compromised. I’ve ruined my personal testimony, but I refuse to ruin the testimony of the Church.” Better still, return to the Lord and claim His forgiveness. Christ is coming back for His Bride, the Church, expecting her to be pure, “having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that she should be holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:27).

Taken from Growing Deep in the Christian Life by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 1986, 1995 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. Used by permission of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. www.harpercollinschristian.com