WHAT IS WRONG WITH JUST LOOKING?- BY JIM KEMP.

_“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”_ – Mt 5.28.

In our day and age, it’s very common for people to show off their naked bodies in magazines, on television, in pornographic films, or on the internet. Nudity, pornography and immorality are everywhere and sometimes we find them without even looking for them. All it takes is the press of a computer key or a button on the remote control. Every newsstand has erotic photos of beautiful, sensuous women.

Many times even Christians may be tempted to look, but this evil should be avoided at all costs.

These kinds of thoughts and mental images will never be good for us. God didn’t invent sex and

sexuality to be dragged through the mud. 

Looking at a naked or half-naked woman, no matter how attractive she may be, will bring lascivious thoughts. Once these thoughts are allowed to take over, they will be difficult to control.

Many married people have great difficulty resisting temptation. God has established limits to help protect the sacredness of marriage. Going beyond these limits will lead to adultery. In order to discover whether or not your “look” is sinful, reflect on the following questions:

• Do you welcome the temptation? In other words, do you find yourself enjoying looking at someone of the opposite sex and having erotic thoughts about that person?

• When you look at someone of the opposite sex, do you let your imagination run wild with impure thoughts? Do you imagine yourself in bed with that person?

• If you were absolutely sure that you would never get caught, would your sinful thoughts become a reality?

If you answered YES to any of the above questions, pay close attention to Jesus’ words, _“…That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart”_ (Mt 5.28). Watch your behaviour, repent of your sin, and ask God for forgiveness. Protect your marriage. Dedicate your eyes to your spouse. Be like Job who promised himself _“…why then should I think upon a maid?”_ (Job 31.1).

BLESSINGS...

JIM KEMP.