29. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
How do we face this problem of lust and impurity in body, mind and spirit? We must be born again. We have no hope until we have salvation and are converted, and repent of our sins, but the lusts still plague Christians. Satan will seek to kill and steal and destroy.
Listen to Jesus' remedy for lust: Jesus says cut out your eye, cut off your hand if that is what is offending you. It is better to be maimed than let that lead to you hell. Cut it out. Ouch!
Some may misunderstand that passage. Why don't we have more disabled and blind people around if we take this passage literally? I believe Jesus is not talking about bodily mutilation here. There would be no end to it. First the right eye, then the left. First one would cut the right hand, then the left hand would eventually go and dissemble the body piece by piece.
Jesus uses the cultural understanding of hyperbole, an exaggeration, to get across how important it is to take away things that lead us into temptations. The problem is a spiritual problem and the only way to spiritual purity is to have the cleansing by the Holy Spirit, then all of our body is dedicated and our entire mind is devoted to the ways of the Lord.
If eyes are a means to a sin, then don't look. Be blinded to those things which bring temptation. Don't go looking at magazines and websites which are geared for our sensual desires. Most companies will gladly push whatever makes money and sexual suggestive clothing sells. Billions of dollars are made in making girls’ clothing look seductive which are worn in school and office buildings. If you are committed to Jesus, your clothes and attitude around the opposite sex needs to demonstrate that.
Whatever activity, dress, or habit in life that keeps us from a pure heart needs to change to be reserved for the Lord and for our mates. Sin so easily ensnares us and we are captured like a fly in the spider's web. No sacrifice is too great if it enables us to control a lust.
Too much of today's music focuses on sexual pleasures. Seldom is there a TV program which doesn’t depict unmarried people going to bed together. There is an avalanche of messages that immoral sexual behavior is now the norm.
We cannot do away with temptation. It will be around. It is not the first look that is the sin, it is the second, third, and fourth. Members of a different sex being together a great deal need to always be alert to the problem of temptation. Be on guard.
1) Recognize that anyone can fall; we are not above temptation.
2) Don't rationalize, if you are starting to make excuses to yourself. Admit it.
3) Stop feeding the thought, guard against sex on TV, movies, books, magazine, and videos.
4) If needs be, take up other diversions or hobbies or think of those things which build up your faith and your personal spiritual life.
5) Keep busy in service of others and God.
6) Pray about it and let the spirit search your heart.
7) Have physical activity though sports, jogging, exercise,
8) Consider the price and consequences of illicit sex.
9) Remember, the Scriptures. Meditate on them. Memorize them.
“There is NO temptation that is given you that is not common to man but with ever temptation God is faithful and will provide for you a way of escape that you may be able to endure it." I Cor. 10:13
