The Lustful Look

 

 

I think most people are aware of Jesus’ definition of adultery that He delivered in His “Sermon on the Mount.” Remember?  Mt 5:27 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Whoa! Good luck in dodging that one!

But Jesus was not stating anything new! These “lustful looks,” are as old as Job and why he made a “covenant with his eyes” to avoid the “lustful adulterous leering,” that has plagued mankind ever since sin entered the world.

Job 31:1 "I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman? 2 For what is the allotment of God from above, And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high? 3 Is it not destruction for the wicked, And disaster for the workers of iniquity? 4 Does He not see my ways, And count all my steps?

In our world today, that place to work out lustful looks is always a click away on our computers. It’s called “pornography.” And though we may think we are getting away with it in the privacy of our own homes, Job tells us that God “sees our ways and counts all our steps.”

I estimate that my junk mail folder in my computer gets at least three invitations a day to view pornography. This is an unwanted intrusion for me personally because I, like Job have made a covenant with my eyes. I join with the Psalmist in a desire to not set anything wicked before my eyes! Ps 101:3 I will set nothing wicked before my eyes;

 

This is not easy in a world that uses sex to sell everything. But just as there is a click to view it, there is also a click to put it in the trash can. By the grace of God, I choose the latter, and I seek to guard against it at all times.

 

If you struggle with pornography, you are not alone.  You will find that out as you share your struggles with others in a Bible Study group. Men, get together with other men and talk about it. Women, get together with other women and talk about it.

Help each other! Pray for each other! Make yourselves accountable to one another. Make a covenant with your eyes, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you keep it!