Many great men and women, from the very beginning of time itself, have been taken captive and have succumb to this primal desire.
What is lust exactly? Where did it come from?
Well first we must understand that God did not create lust. It is the pervertion of the instinct to love and be loved. God created us with innate disires for love. For example, God created in us sexual desire in order that we procreate and enjoy fulfillment. He, for our own good and welfare, designed it to be enjoyed within the confines of marriage. Where a husband and wife could enjoy sexual pleasure with each other. It was to be motivated by love and and shared intimately by the married couple. It was meant to be exclusive in nature. However, man in his fallen Adammic state, are susceptible to it’s pervertion which it takes on the form of lust. Lust is different from love. Love seeks to give, but lust seeks to get. Instead of wanting to give pleasure as a gift,we seek to take pleasure for ourselves. Lust is totally selfish in nature. The sin of lust is destructive, not only to the one seeking temporary, momentary satisfaction, but to the one used gain it from. Because of this many have been victimized. From it we have things like rape,and human trafficking. These cause injury to another. Those whom have been victimized suffer emotionally, physically, and phycology.
The Devil has been playing havoc on humanity for eons with lust. Homosexuality is another pervertion. (See Romans chapter 1)
It tears apart families and ruins relationships. It is utterly destructive.
Another thing that happens to the person with lust is that it’s takes them captive. They become consumed by it. They are powerless against it. Hence why I call it the prison of lust.
Many, mostly men, because of their strong sexual instinct have been brought down. Even Christian and godly men are susceptible. For example, David called by God, “a man after mine own heart” fell into sin with Bathsheba. In my lifetime I think of ministers like Jimmy Swagged, Jim Baker, and Ravi Zacharias, and the leader of Hillsong. And countless other ministers and Christian leaders. The book of Proverbs chapter 5 describes a man suduced by an immoral women.
Lust comes from the heart, played out in the mind, and acted on. However, if stopped just shot of action, it’s still sin. The Bible tells us, “if a man looks upon a woman to lust after her, he has already committed sin in his heart.” Matt 5:27-28.
In our culture today the deck is overwhelmingly stacked against us. In an on line article by Theroadtograce.net found;
55% said they have viewed porn with 44% more than once.
The average age that teenagers first viewed porn is 13 years old; 29% of those that did so, did by accident or after pressure from others.
13% said they viewed porn daily or several times a day
32% told Dignify they have already acted out what they viewed in pornography
The majority of participants felt porn was an unwelcome influence
60% think people who watch porn are more likely to act out porn they have viewed
58% felt people who use porn are likely to objectify others
56% disagreed with the statement ‘Porn is helpful to me’
We are constantly bombarded by sexual imagagy and talk every day. Try though we may, to keep our kids from it’s influence, smart phones, PCs, tablets, even public education, we just can’t.
Pray,
“and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” 2Tim 2:26.
In the song by Creed, Scott Stapp writes, “I created my own prison…and I called out to God because he’s the only one who can save me.”
So how can we escape such the powerful desire of lust? How can we who get caught up in lust escape? The truth is we can’t. We cannot, in ourselves, by ourselves. It’s only by calling upon God and through the power of the Holy Spirit can we break free. But first, if you haven’t given your heart to Jesus, if you haven’t in invited Him in and made him Lord of your life. If you haven’t asked asked for forgiveness of your sins? Do it now. “Now is the day of salvation…for we have all sinned. Each has gone their own way.”
If you are already a believer, and are overcomed by lust, first, admit it, repent, ask forgiveness, and ask the Lord to give you the power of the Holy Spirit to help free you from the prison of lust. “He who the Son sets free, is free indeed.”