Throw away the junk- the harmful
There was a government official who stayed in a big bungalow. He used to invite his friends to his house with the warm Indian hospitality. He was in the habit of not throwing away unwanted and unnecessary materials – the junk – from his house. He stocked this junk in boxes, lofts and in the corners of all the rooms except the front hall. He never had the mind to throw away non-essential things. For him these materials seemed to be very precious and important. But this junk prevented him from comfortably enjoying his stay in the house, and also retarded the visits of his friends to his house.
In our spiritual life also, sometimes we are not willing to part away with certain non-essentials like this officer. One of the non-essentials that make our spiritual life uncomfortable and unfruitful is ‘Worldly lusts’. The Bible teaches us that we have to ‘abstain from fleshy lusts which war against the soul’ 1Pet.2:11.
1.What is lust?
The lust is defined by the Bible scholars as ‘evil desire’. In the Bible, the Hebrew word ‘nepes’ is used for lust with the meaning of ‘craving’ or ‘strong desire’Ex.15:9 and Ps.78:18. The Greek word used for lust in the New Testament is ‘epithymia’ which means ‘strong desire’ or ‘sexual passion’Eph.2:3, 1 Pet.2:11, It was used in the context of St. Paul’s desire to be with Christ.Phil.1:23 and his longing to see his converts 1 Thes.2:17. The Chambers Dictionary gives the meaning of lust as ‘longing’, ‘eager to possess’, ‘sexual desire’ and ‘sexual desire of a degraded kind’.
2.The Origin of Lust:
a) From the world: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but of the world.” 1 Jn.2:16.
b) From the flesh: “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown brings forth death.” James 1:14, 15.
c) From the heart: “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” Matt.15:19,20.
d) From Satan: “And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him… Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him, Then Jesus said to him, ‘What you do, do quickly.’” John. 13:2, 27.
3.The Harmful effects of Lust:
a) It is corrupt and deceitful: “That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.” Eph.4:22
b) It is foolish and harmful: “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.” 1 Tim. 6:9.
c) It spoils people: “Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, nor let her allure you with her eyelids. For by means of a harlot a man is reduced to a crust of bread; and an adulteress will prey upon his precious life.” Prov. 6:25, 26
d) It enslaves people: “The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the unfaithful will be taken by their own lust”. Prov.11:6.
4.The Steps to overcome Lust:
a) Flee youthful Lust: “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of pure heart”. 2 Tim.2:22
b) Deny ungodliness and worldly lusts: “Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” Titus.2:12.
c) Put to death your members which produces lust: “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornications uncleanness passion evil desire and covetousness which is idolatry” Col.3:5
d) Walk in the Spirit: “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lust which war against the soul” 1 Peter 2:11. And “Walk in the spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Gal.5:16.
(Dr. C. Barnabas, taken from True Discipleship, Oct-Nov-1995)