It's Only

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton

It's Only

by Norma Sue Lott
(fourth stanza by Alan Williamson)

"It's only sex" she said to me
It's only the loss of innocence.
It's only a child born to a child.
It's only a child in an abortion mill.

"It's only drugs " she said to me.
It's only heroin, cocaine, meth and pot.
It's only the loss of innocence.
It's only a brain damaged in ICU.
It's only spending time in jail.
It's only the future of our country.

I don't like the world of "It's Only."
It's a scary place.

"It's only pixels" on a computer screen
That is what pornography is ... It's only images
Forever burned into your memory.
It is truly the loss of innocence
It is the rotten fruit of degradation
It is a poison in the soul that eats away at the heart
It is the fuel of ungodly lusts and sordid desire
It is someone's daughter, someone's mother
It is not a sin where no one gets hurt
It is adultery in the heart
It leads to death and destruction
It is a multi-billion dollar industry.

I don't like the world of "It's Only."
It's a scary place.

God warns about the deceitfulness of sin: "But exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin" (Hebrews 3:13). Satan lies when he whispers in your ear that one more party, one more puff, one more frolic won't matter because you'll stop tomorrow ... maybe. But you get used to the chains. You feed your pride because you know you'll stop ... later.

Oh, you'll stop all right. But will there be anything left of you? Or, will you only stop when it's too late?