In my family we were expecting before we were married...I was in the wrong before God and I knew it...but I told him I would stand by the mother and marry her. Immediately, the sense of deep guilt left me and I felt the inner strength to “pay the bride price” as the bible stated. Now 19 years later and 4 beautiful children I’m confident it was a wise decision to face up to my responsibilities as a man before God.
Does this mean I should have sinned in the first place...no and I have learned over the years some of the blessings I lost when I stepped out of God’s will. Not just for me, but fore my spouse as well. Perhaps had I been stronger not yielded to temptation she would have had a better life with some-one else...I don’t know.
Carnal self centeredness effects more than one person, it effects other folks and even descendants to come. There-fore it becomes important to begin to view ones’ life not as a finite collection of solitary acts of faith vs. faithlessness(with no other effects upon other present and future selves). Rather we should each view our own lives as dams in time and dimension in which the effects of a carefully lived faith hold back the effects of the sins of our forefathers while allowing the faith of Jesus Christ to effect our present and future relationships.
Even when mistakes are made, the character shown in admitting and correcting for such errors does much repair the spiritual breeches!
Well said, sir!