Cotham's Comments, July 1993

Much is being said about a cure for AIDS. There is no remedy for this dread disease, except the one God stated in the Bible: "one man and one woman, married for life with no sexual relationships outside marriage."

And there came unto him Pharisees, trying him. and saying, Is it lawful for a mail to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said, Have ye not react that he who made them from the beginning made them male and females and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh? So that they are no more two, but one flesh, What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him Why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses for your hardness of heart suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it hath not been so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery (Matt. 19:3-9).

To put it in the words of Paul, "Keep thyself pure."

God's marriage rules are for our good and happiness. If all faithfully followed the biblical standard, AIDS would soon disappear. Everyone knows AIDS is spreading at an alarming rate because of sexual looseness and debauchery.

Many will say that is it unrealistic and impractical to expect people, especially young people, to abstain from sexual activity before marriage. Some will claim that it is absurd to expect husbands and wives to be faithful to each other. Multiplied thousands were virgin,:, when married and loyal to their marriage partner until death. It can be done! It should be done! It must be done! To keep the marriage law of God is for our benefit and pleasure. To break God's rules for right living brings misery and loss.

Some thoughtlessly say that the marriage law of God applies only to those who are in a covenant relationship with God. flow foolish! If a monogamous, sexually pure arrangement makes the child of God happy and safe, is it just to suppose that God withholds this blessing from those who are outside the church? No! The marriage law of God is universal because God makes the sun to shine on all.

God wrote a law of sowing and reaping: Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For lie that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap everlasting (Gal. 6:7-8).

That applies to both saint and sinner. "Fools make a mock at sin" (Prov. 14:9).

Medical science may find a cure for AIDS someday, after uncountable deaths and incredible costs, though no virus has ever been cured. If HIV can be successfully treated and AIDS stopped while people are sexually promiscuous, which is highly unlikely, this will not prevent a more terrible tragedy. Those who die unrepentant of sin are sternly warned:

Or know ye not that tile unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God (I Cor. 6:9-10).

Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge (Heb. 13:14).

But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in tile lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death (Rev. 21:8).

Let us speak "the truth in love" on this subject so that some will be encouraged to turn "from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God."