I have this bad habit of seeing prostitutes
Question:
I've been reading your articles and you are a blessing.
My question is: Can God forgive someone who keeps on falling into a bad habit? I have a confession to make: Yesterday I fell from grace and engaged in sex with prostitutes. A month before I had fallen into the same trap and repented. I feel unworthy and empty. Will God give me another chance? I've struggled with this bad habit for some years now, and I really want to live in total holiness.
Kindly advise me and help.
Answer:
"For by means of a harlot A man is reduced to a crust of bread; And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life. Can a man take fire to his bosom, And his clothes not be burned? Can one walk on hot coals, And his feet not be seared? So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife; Whoever touches her shall not be innocent. People do not despise a thief If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving. Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold; He may have to give up all the substance of his house. Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul. Wounds and dishonor he will get, And his reproach will not be wiped away" (Proverbs 6:26-33).
One of the points Solomon is making in this passage is that with some sins there is sympathy because of the need, such as a man stealing to feed his family, but even though there is sympathy the crime is still punished. Sexual sins are not like this because everyone understands that there is no need involved.
You worded your note as if you had little or no choice in the matter. Seeing a prostitute is not a habit. It is a decision you made because you rather let your desires rule over your choices. You have to decide that you are no longer going to waste your money with prostitutes. You have to make following God your first priority, which might involve making choices that go against your desires of the moment.
Can you be forgiven? Of course! All sins are forgivable so long as you are willing to change (to repent). "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter" (II Corinthians 7:10-11). If you want to be holy, you have to be serious about it even when it is not convenient.
