In today's world where there is a lot of visual temptations, the Christian has to stay committed to keeping his eyes pure. And now that sinful and lust-laden things are readily on display for all the people to see, the challenge to stay pure is just getting harder.
See no evil
Satan has attacked all men and women with all sorts of temptations through the eyes. In the time of Abraham, a king fell for his wife (see Genesis 20:2-10). In the time of Abraham's nephew Lot, men lusted after two men, who were actually angels in disguise. Lot, who pitched his tent towards Sodom long before living inside the town (see Genesis 13:12), crazily offered to the men his two virgin daughters instead (see Genesis 19:4-8).
The Bible gives us some more examples of men of God falling because of their eyes. Samson was caught by Delilah's beauty (see Judges 16), and David fell for Bathsheba after seeing her bathing (see 2 Samuel 11). Think about it. If these men knew how to control their eyes, they wouldn't have fallen into sin.
Eyes are entry points
The Lord Jesus spoke of our eyes as the way by which our body is filled by either the light or the darkness. He said in Luke 11:34-36:
"Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you."
Knowing this, brothers and sisters, we should see to it that what we are looking at is what is good and godly, that which will edify us up and not tear us down.
Radical commitment
To help us with that, Job presents a radical solution that will help us make sure that light is what enters us. He said in Job 31:1:
"I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman."
He goes on to explain why in the following verses:
"For what is our lot from God above, our heritage from the Almighty on high? Is it not ruin for the wicked, disaster for those who do wrong? Does he not see my ways and count my every step?" (Job 31:2-4)
Fear the Lord and keep your eyes from evil
Friends, it's more than just stopping yourself from looking at something lustful. It's about committing yourself to purity in the fear of the Lord. More than that, we should realise that Christ has purchased us with His blood, and thus we are not our own anymore. We don't have a right to look with lust at things and people.
For those who are married, it gets even better. Our eyes belong to our spouses, and they are the only ones we should look at and desire.
