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Does it matter what
I look at?
Introduction
I realize we live in a world that has desensitized us to sin, but that does
not mean we as professing Christians should not strive for holiness. I also
realize that many - if not all - people who read this have been very much
desensitized to sin in many ways, and do not realize it. Such is the subtlety of
sin. Such is also the power of today's mass media and advertising agencies who
have gotten us to remember TV commercials from 30 years ago and yet we cannot
seem to remember what we were reading in the Bible last week - if we even
cracked open the Good book.
Is it just a matter of opinion?
And yes, it is a matter of opinion regarding what we look
at... God's opinion. God has much to say about how we live and what we expose
ourselves to, be it by way of viewing pornography or violence, or girl/guy
watching, or anything at all that is not spiritually profitable...
"But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to
lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."
[Matthew 5:28]
"And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it
from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than
having two eyes to be cast into hell fire." [Matthew 18:9]
"Love not the world, neither the things that are
in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For
all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and
the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world
passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth
for ever. [1 John 2:15-17]
"Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but
he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body." [1
Corinthians 6:18]
"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." [Ephesians 5:15-16]
"So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are
commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was
our duty to do." [Luke 17:10]
Friend, God may not stop you from sinning for quite some
time, but He will surely have the last word.
God has a law that we must all obey, the law of sowing and
reaping:
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that
shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh
reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life
everlasting." [Galatians 6:7-8]
If God does not deal with our sin in this life, we can be
sure He will deal with it in our next life:
"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall
speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment." [Matthew
12:36]
"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all
likewise perish." [Luke 13:5]
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?
Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous,
nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of
God." [1 Corinthians 6:9]
If we are true believers, genuine Christians, God will surely deal with us
in this life:
"For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he
receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what
son is he whom the father chasteneth not?" [Hebrews 12:6-7]
"behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find
you out." [Numbers 32:23]
We hurt ourselves and others
Sin always has consequences, usually far more consequences
than we realize. Polluting our minds will always end up in greater sin, as we
act out that which we have filled our minds with. God commands us to do
everything to His glory. How in the world can we pollute our minds to His glory?
How can we expect to have healthy relationships when will fill our minds with
visual sewage? How can we expect to not have our sin found out, to the disgrace
of our families, our own reputation, and that of the Lord's reputation if we
tell others that we are Christians? How can we expect our sin to not escalate if
we don't flee from it for good and avoid it at all costs by calling on the Lord
to help us and by asking our spouses and close confidents to help us with our
struggles?
Does it matter what we cause others to look at?
And yes, we are our brother's keeper. We are responsible
for whether or not we cause others to stumble. Perhaps it may mean that we need
to seriously consider what we allow into our homes by way of TV, rented videos,
internet, US mail, or even the people we invite over. Perhaps it may mean
that we don't have an internet account if someone in our home is tempted to view
pornography online or other things that may seem harmless but detract from
spiritual growth. Perhaps, at a minimum, we have to install ad filters or use an
internet provider that has a filtering service, even if it costs us more per
month for internet service. Maybe we should not subscribe to secular
newspapers or magazines that have worldly or ungodly advertisements or articles
which could be a stumbling block for others in our homes and that would rob
ourselves of valuable time that could be used more profitably for the increase
of the kingdom of God. Perhaps we should even check with the Post Office to see
if they have a way of withholding junk mail since that may be source of
ungodliness...
"Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be
a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly
abhor it; for it is a cursed thing." [Deuteronomy 7:26 ]
Perhaps we need to avoid shopping at stores that display
ungodly magazines at the checkout counter... we might find ourselves eating
healthier too if we shop only at produce stores and surplus stores that don't
usually have the sleazy publications that are all too prevalent at most major
supermarkets these days...
"I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes" [
Psalms 101:3]
Also, what about the e-mails we forward that don't glorify
God, but rather glorify the flesh, that have jokes that make a mock of sin, that
cater to the worldly lusts, that promote gossip, ridicule, slander, etc. What
about our own web sites? Do we have web sites that are profitable for others, or
that just look like what any unsaved person would have? Do images on our
web sites bring glory to God or are they patterned after the world and designed
to use worldly techniques to capture attention? Have we even asked ourselves if
we might be causing a brother or sister to stumble or is our priority to have
the most visitors to our website or to have the most financially profitable
website?
"And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me,
it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were
cast into the sea." [Mark 9:42]
Conclusion
If we are not proactive about keeping sin our of our homes and
our of our lives, it surely will come in. It may start as a trickle but it will
quickly turn into a flood...
"Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it
is finished, bringeth forth death." [James 1:15]
God warns us in the Bible, over and over, that our sinful ways
will eventually catch up to us, with dire consequences. Let us take those
warnings very seriously, for they are meant for our good and the consequences
are guaranteed by God - who never lies. If only we as God's people today
could have Isaiah's view of sin and holiness. Then such articles as this would
not be necessary...
"Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a
man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for
mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." [Isaiah 6:5]
Ray Kane
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