How can I protect myself from an unplanned pregnancy?

Answer: If you are considering intercourse but you don't want to get pregnant, please understand that God created your sexuality for a good purpose, which includes your enjoyment, but it also includes the potential for the creation of new life. If you're not married, you're not ready to care for a baby, so please consider saving your precious gift of sexuality until you really meet Mr. Right--on your wedding night!

Maybe you think that sounds too prudish and old-fashioned, but someday you'll be glad if you follow this advice. God created you to have an abundant life, and He knows what is best for you.

Have you ever been tempted to fill your car's gas tank with water? After all, that would save you a lot of money, so you could have a lot more fun driving around, right? Of course not! Your car wasn't designed to run on water; it was designed to burn gasoline, so even though it's expensive, you keep emptying your purse to keep your car running. (And if you ever gave in to the temptation to use water instead of gasoline, you would pay a lot more in the long run.)

Just as Ford doesn't recommend putting water in a car's gas tank, God didn't create your body for casual sex. He created your sexuality for your enjoyment and benefit, but if you don't follow His directions, this wonderful gift might become a source of sadness and distress in your life.

Satan may be tempting you to take the fun, easy road right now, but remember that Satan has been a liar and a destroyer from the beginning. Satan tries to deceive people into thinking that they're "missing out on the fun" if they follow God's directions, but if you fall into Satan's trap, he will destroy your life.

Whether or not you use condoms, diaphragms, sponges, or any other form of "protection," you may contract a sexually transmitted disease as a "benefit" of a few minutes of enjoyment. And they don't make a condom for your heart; your sexual relationship may mean more to you than it means to your boyfriend, and you could find yourself emotionally bonded to someone who was just looking for a thrill. Of course, you could also become pregnant, and whether or not you choose to abort the child, you can't erase a pregnancy. It will affect you the rest of your life.

Recent studies have shown that married couples experience the most sexual satisfaction. Don't try to take a shortcut--you may find that it's a dead-end road.

"But my boyfriend might leave me if I refuse to have sex with him!" If so, you're better off without him. Guys like this will probably leave you after they've had their fun anyway, looking for another virgin to deflower. Don't become another notch on his belt. If he really loves you, he will respect your need to wait until marriage. And you'll both have a better sex life someday as a result.

Jesus said, "The thief [Satan] comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." (John 10:10) Jesus wants what is best for you, but you will only find it if you surrender to Him.

You see, you have broken God's laws (just as everybody has), and your actions are punishable by death. But God cared so much about you that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to save you. Although Jesus was fully God from the beginning of time, He humbled himself to become a human being at the moment of conception, then He grew up to become a man, living a perfect life--never even breaking one of God's laws. Then He died in your place, even though He didn't deserve to die. You deserved to die, but Jesus took your punishment on Himself. After three days, Jesus came back to life, and now He is inviting you to receive His gift of eternal life.

Admit that you have broken God's laws, and that you deserve to die. Surrender to God, and accept Jesus' sacrifice for you. Believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, and that He can give you life. Then, speak these words out loud: "Jesus is my Lord." If you have done this, the Bible says you will be saved.

If you have accepted Jesus today, or if we can help in any way, please contact us! We would be thrilled to hear about how God is working in your life.

If you want to know more about Jesus, read the book of John in the Bible. If you don't have a Bible, click here to read the Bible online.