A couple is sitting at an outdoor cafe. An attractive young lady walks by, but he never glances her way and never loses eye contact with his wife. The announcer states, "Give that man a Klondike Bar." In another scene a different couple is sitting at an outdoor cafe. As an attractive young lady, the man zeros in on her. As she passes, he takes out his new shiny surface cell phone and watches her reflection. He receives a text message from the girl he is sitting at the cafe with that says, "U r a pig!"
One of the toughest temptations a man faces from the time he reaches puberty is his visual attraction to the opposite sex. It doesn't take much for most men to be visually stimulated. The stimulation is a natural response that God wired into men. Yet, the visual stimulation by itself isn't the problem. It's what one does with about the stimulation.
Prostitution has often been called the world's oldest profession. Seductive dress or attire has always seemed to be a part of that trade. Although I'm sure prostitution is still very active worldwide, the pornography industry has no doubt surpassed it in participation. The internet has made viewing pornography easy for anyone to access while still maintaining a sense of privacy. In fact it's hard to avoid it on the internet. Various spam and personal filters have help, but doesn't make you immune.
My guess is that many men, who claim to be followers of Christ, struggle with the temptation to view porn. My guess is that there are many Christian men who actually have an addiction to porn. They may never visit a prostitute or have an affair with a coworker or neighbor. But they regularly are drawn to porn sites.
I think we men would do well to do as Job did, make a covenant with our eyes not to look lustfully at a girl. Job said he wouldn't let his heart be led with his eyes and that he wouldn't let his hands be defiled. He said he wouldn't allow another woman to entice his heart or go lurking as his neighbor's door. Why? Because Job knew the consequences for his own relationship with his wife. He knew that it would lead to disaster and destruction. He confessed that someone else would no doubt end up eating his food and sleeping in his bed.
Even though we might think that viewing porn doesn't hurt anyone and no one is else is watching us, we're wrong. First of all, God is watching and we will hold us accountable. Second, it does impact our relationship with our wife whether she finds out or not. Third, continued viewing will destroy you. Job says it is a fire that burns to destruction.
Guys, we need a covenant with our eyes. If you're married, you already made a covenant with your wife. If you're not married, you have an obligation to your future wife. Besides, if you get hooked on porn before you meet that future wife, it will affect your future relation.
God, just like every other guy I struggle with visual stimulation. Remind me of my covenant to my wife. Help me to keep my covenant with my eyes.
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