Hard to believe, I know. But that's what one Chicago couple did.

"Chicagoans Melody LaLuz, 28, and Claudaniel Fabien, 30, shared their first kiss Saturday at the altar. The two teach abstinence at the city's public schools and practiced what they preached to their teenage students. The Chicago Tribune reports that the couple had never kissed and that they had never been alone together in a house" (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,459247,00.html).

The focus of my article will not be on waiting till marriage until a couple has their first kiss. However, there are great lessons from this unique story to be applied to the life of every Christian.

1. The Bible teaches abstinence. "Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge" (Heb. 13:4). How surprising and refreshing that a young couple in today's world can see the wisdom and purity of waiting until marriage. Both the Christian who is unmarried and married need to put into practice what Paul wrote to the saints in Thessalonica, to "abstain from sexual immorality" and to "know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor" (1 Thess. 4:3-5).

2. Never alone together. This is where most young couples "in love" get themselves into trouble. The young man and woman are alone at a house, apartment, or bedroom and youthful lusts begin to manifest themselves. It is wise never to place ourselves in such tempting situations (Eph. 5:15). The first kiss always leads to more, which in turn, can lead to immorality. Remember to "flee" youthful lusts and sexual immorality (2 Tim. 2:22; 1 Cor. 6:18).

3. Practiced what they preached. Elders, preachers, deacons, and saints often fail to do this very thing (Rom. 2:17-24). But this young couple was consistent in both their message and practice. Let us ever strive to preach the truth in love (Eph. 4:15), and then do those things with love (1 Cor. 16:14). If we fail in this area, we have failed the Lord, each other, and the lost around us!