Wednesday, January 13
Everyone who keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
The disastrous path of immorality often starts with the eyes. Many Christians who have fallen into wrongdoing have weakened their moral defenses by viewing pornography, reading erotic literature, or watching lurid material on the Internet. Others have allowed themselves to be entertained by sexually explicit movies, stage shows, or television programs. Some have visited nightclubs and strip shows or have gone to massage parlors for sensual massages. In a world that lacks restraint and that thrives on every sort of immorality, it is all too easy for a deceitful and desperate heart to spawn romantic feelings for someone other than a marriage mate. Jesus said: “Out of the heart come wicked reasonings, murders, adulteries, sexual immorality.”
COMMENTARY
It is interesting that in so-called non-Christian nations immorality and the glorification of flesh is less prevalent.
Take Islamic culture for example, where women dress much more modestly. I have never personally visited a Muslim nation, but I am certain their societies are not completely saturated with images of scantily clad women. For instance, an Islamic female would never think of wearing a bikini in public. Yet it is perfectly acceptable in the West.
For contrast, look at the typical female newscaster in America, with low cut blouse and hiked up skirt, compared with an Islamic female reporter showing virtually no flesh except her face and hands.
But there is a reason why women are conditioned to show so much, and it is not just to sell stuff – although on the surface that is the obvious motivation. But it goes deeper than that. In the West anything goes because Satan is intent on tempting Christians; specifically – Jehovah’s Witnesses.
As the Watchtower notes, “immorality often starts with the eyes.” Keep in mind the demons —who were themselves originally tempted into immorality when they began to notice the daughters of men, that they were good-looking —have promoted sexual immorality in nations where Jehovah’s Witnesses are most prominent. That is not coincidental.
There’s no question about it, the desire of the eyes and the desire of the flesh are what the world is all about. But that world is about to pass away.
