D. Paul Reilly, For The Guardian

I guess that when a whole lot of people initially read the title of this particular article, they'll immediately start to speculate about what it is that I'm going to be dealing with today. In other words, what exactly is it that is going to "set up" an individual for future heartache?

What I'm dealing with here today is the extremely delicate subject of infidelity in relationships, which alas is all too common throughout the world, and in particular The Bahamas.

The practice of "sweethearting", as it is locally referred to, is having an affair with someone other than one's spouse while still married. Alas, it is most common.

What I'm relaying to you my friend, is that infidelity, or sweethearting is indeed a definite "set up" for great heart ache in the future — and don't you ever forget it!

When anyone deceives another, by having an affair outside his or her marriage, it is most definitely bound to have repercussions — on both the person who is cheating, and on his or her spouse. It will also bring ultimate disaster into the life of anyone who knowingly is involved romantically with someone else's spouse.

If you are having an affair with someone whom you know to be married to someone else, believe you me when I tell you, that absolutely nothing good can come out of it. In fact, I guarantee that your future will be full of heartache if you insist on continuing in this illicit, sordid, ungodly affair.

Everything in the universe operates in accordance with the law of cause and effect. What you put out daily in all of your affairs during your present existence on planet earth, is exactly what you will inevitably get back, for as it is written: as you sow ... so shall you reap.

When you sow deception, you must, according to universal law, reap a harvest full of great heartache. And please my friend, don't ever try to kid yourself by stating that you're living your life in accordance with God's laws by stating that you're a Christian, whilst you're also involved in an illicit affair.

Don't ever forget that no one can ever fool God. And in God's world, in God's universe, there are no closed doors behind which we incorrectly think that we can hide our sordid lifestyle from Him. Yes indeed, God obviously sees all, including our illicit activities and sordid affairs. In short, if you honestly feel that God wouldn't like it — well then, don't do it!

*Email: dpr@humanri.com and listen to "Time to Think" the radio program on Star 106.5 FM at 8:55a.m. & 6:15 p.m. Monday through Friday.