Sexual lust has been around since the Fall, and as Solomon put it thousands of years ago, it has taken down many strong men. And with the advent of the internet, pornography has become ubiquitous, with the added lie of apparent secrecy. But God sees all things; nothing is hidden from Him.
Jesus says that this lust in the heart is the sin of adultery in root form, and that radical repentance is often necessary to kill it. He says to cut off the hand and pluck out the eye that causes you to sin. Too many men do not treat this sin as the enemy it really is. They make excuses, they promise to do better next time, but they refuse to use their strength at the very point where it is necessary. Jesus says that you must be harsh with this sin; you must do the violence necessary to kill it. Get rid of your smart phone, cancel the internet, only use a public computer or tablet, delete the app, cancel Netflix, get accountability software – whatever it takes. Jesus says it is better to enter life maimed than to go to Hell with your hands and eyes intact. Better to face the shame of dealing with your sin than to go to Hell with everyone thinking you were doing just fine.
If you have ongoing struggles in this area, you need to get help. Ask a pastor, an elder, your dad, or another older brother or father. The end of this road is pain, shame, loss, death, and Hell. If you cannot bring yourself to take the steps to kill this sin, get the kind of help that isn’t afraid to pull the trigger for you.
Finally, remember that all repentance consists of putting off the old man and putting on the new man. And in many ways, you have to do both in order to do either. So what new obedience are you putting on? Don’t merely run from sin; run toward righteousness. Be regularly in the Word and prayer – pursue Christ; use your strength for good: work hard, work long, serve others. If you’re not married, take steps to prepare yourself for marriage, and if you are married, pursue your wife faithfully.
Do you want to see the Light drive back the darkness? Do you want to see the abortion carnage end? Do you want to see women honored in our land? Then kill this sin. To paraphrase John Owen: You are not getting stronger if you are not walking daily over the back of your lust.
Photo by Julia Joppien on Unsplash
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