Soldier's Orders: Pluck It Out
If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.
Matthew 18:9 (NKJV)
If your eye causes you to stumble and sin, pluck it out and throw it away from you [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]; it is better for you to enter life with only one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fiery hell.
Matthew 18:9 (Amplified Bible)
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Colossians 3:5 (ESV)
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
1 John 2:16 (ESV)
Christ’s eye-plucking Order is a whammy. Could Jesus have meant it literally? (Mostly, I don’t think so, but one time, yes.)
Consider Samson’s brave (but hard) story. This Bible star had eyes for the ladies and ignored obvious danger signals. Eventually, Samson lost them both: his eyes and the ladies… literally.
King David had an eye for Bathsheba. When the Prophet Nathan confronted him, David repented. And by consequence, he also suffered– as well as the nation of Israel.
Conclusion? The legacy of broken families often carries tragic consequences.
It started with Eve: 'When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate' (Genesis 3:6).
Actors, models, and talent for Christ:
If a tempted, sin-filled eye leads to lust, if lust leads to spiritual blindness… then lots of us are walking in the dark.
Lust isn't just about steamy hookups. It's also about food, intoxicants, prosperity, positions, and power.
Consider:
If your body is a temple for God, then your eye is a window to your soul.
If you choose to look upon godly things, your window stays clean; your temple stays bright. But…
If you choose to look upon sleazy things, your window gets smudged; your temple grows dark.*
Jesus explains the importance of “eyes” (i.e. the crucial focus of our attention.)
'Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!' (Matthew 6:22-23, NLT).
Therefore, guard your eyes. Don't focus on things that are unhealthy, immoral, hateful, harmful, or selfish.**
'Do not enter the path of the wicked and do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on' (Proverbs 4:14-15). 'Let your eyes look straight ahead' (Proverbs 4:25).
Your bottom line and a soldier’s duty: Close your windows to things you know are wrong. Repeat after repentant King David: 'I will set nothing wicked before my eyes' (Psalm 101:3).
Soldier's Orders: Pluck It Out (Part 23)
NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players.’ Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.
* Short article: Lust of the eyes: http://www.gotquestions.org/lust-of-the-eyes.html
** 'The devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, 'All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.' Then Jesus said to him, 'Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve' ' (Matthew 4:8-10).