The resignation of Central Intelligence Agency Director David Petraeus over an extramarital affair reminds us of some of the many dangerous consequences of marital infidelity. Espionage 101 teaches that sexual temptation is one of the most important tools for an enemy seeking access to information. What a ridiculous shame that our nation's top security man fell into that old trap. His email was being accessed by his extramarital lover or someone close to her. This kind of thing can do more than undermine a marriage and destroy a career. Many lives can be lost and great harm to an entire nation can occur when those trusted with its defense and its secrets allow enemies in the back door due to their lack of self-control in the face of sexual temptation. Petraeus probably did not intend for this to happen when he chose to cheat on his wife, but through the betrayal of his marriage vows, he has betrayed all of us and may have put some lives in direct jeopardy.

Unfortunately, it's not just CIA chiefs, generals, and politicians who are targeted. Each of us has an enemy who seeks to destroy us and our happiness. Destroying our character, our trustworthiness, our marriage, and our family relationships is a top priority for this character, and immorality is one of his most powerful tools, especially when coupled with human pride and vanity. Thanks to the flood of immorality available on the Internet and through the lucrative entertainment industry, his ability to snag us is greater than ever, and constant, prayerful vigilance is needed for us to remain free and stay true to our most sacred commitments and covenants.

Marriage matters. Trust matters. Loyalty matters, whether it is to our country or our spouse and children. Infidelity undermines all of that. The selfish pursuit of pleasure makes us less, and less trustworthy, less dependable, less able to serve and make a positive difference in the world.

May we each repent swiftly of whatever is moving us or threatens to move us from the trust of our spouse and children, and, for some, from the trust of a nation, and may we return more fully to God and stay clean from the growing sins of this world. May we also demand more from those we ask to serve their nation and recognize that character is not just a private matter but one of public importance. Fidelity, after all, truly matters.
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