"LUST"

Good day everyone and today we begin an ugly study. Ugly because it is one of those things in our lives that can truly take us away from seeing the wonder and beauty of God to focusing on self and how to gratify the sinful flesh. The topic is that of 'LUST'. Unless you just crawled out from under a rock or came from another planet, you are probably bombarded with the temptation to lust. Whether from T.V. or radio or any other type of media, these ideas are constantly thrown our way. You cannot watch a program or an advertisement for nearly any product without some idea of lust coming your way.

From the language of The Holy Word of God, the Greek word for lust has the following meaning;

"epithumeo, (pronounced 'ep-ee-thoo-meh'-o'), epithymia (επιθυμια), to set the heart upon, i.e. long for (rightfully or otherwise):--covet, desire, would fain, lust (after).

Here, as in reference to murder (Mt. 5:21,22), Jesus legislates against the 'thought' which actually comes before the act itself. He helps us see the necessity of cutting off sin at its lowest root, in the mind. The essence of all vice begins with the intention of the heart. Those who indulge in unchaste imaginations, desires and intentions, according to Christ, are guilty before God. This is in no way license to go ahead and commit the sin if thought about in the mind. Notice what Jesus says in Matthew 5:27,28, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (RSV)

As a quote I recently read states, "The eye and the heart are the two brokers of sin." "Passions lodge only in him who sees.

David in the Old Testament had a problem with lust and carried it to the extreme. We know the story of how he obtained Bathsheba and how he went on to have her husband removed from the situation as David himself tried to cover his own sin. In Psalm 51, after Nathan reveals David's sin to him, David is truly remorseful for his sin and asks God to completely forgive him as only God can do. If lust is a sin you have a problem with in life, take the best step first and please do not try to cover it your way.

As Paul says in Philippians 4:8,9, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you." (ASV)

The best way to keep ourselves from sin and the root of it, is to think on the Holy Things Of God and all HIS Word teaches. So the next time this temptation comes your way, quote a passage, move your eyes away, do something you know is a teaching of The Lord. In other words, as Paul says, DO SOMETHING you know is right.