The eye is the lamp of the body. So,
if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if
your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then
the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! -
Matthew 6:22-23
They say your eyes are the
mirror of your soul. If you ever looked into several people's eyes
for real, you could find that there is truth in this saying. Yet,
your eyes aren't only a reflection of your insides. They're more like
windows – things you see get inside, too.
When Jesus says
If your right eye
causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better
that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown
into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and
throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members
than that your whole body go into hell. - Matthew 5:29-30
that's a pretty clear
statement.
Better tear out or cut off
what causes you to sin instead of going to hell with it. The eye or
hand or foot in itself isn't evil or sinful, but it can cause you to
sin. That is why it is so important to take care of what we do, say,
hear or see.
For example – I know
that I'm easily fascinated by fantasy stuff, which, I believe, in
itself isn't sinful. But there are many stories and elements that do
not show the evil side as evil as it is or even portrait it as the
good side. That's not only fantasy related but basically can be found
everywhere. So when I continue watching, reading or listening to
stories that subtly tell me occult things are okay or that witchcraft
is good, (which is bluntly going against what the bible says) I start
believing those things and maybe even doubting god's word. And that
can lead to sinful thoughts and actions. It may not happen after the
first or second time, but the more I spend time with it, the more it
will affect me.
Another example – sex.
Living today isn't easy for people who want to live their sexual life
by god's standards. It's common to have sex before marriage, even
somewhat normal to have sex after dating so and so often. It's normal
to split up, it's normal to see a lot of skin and arousing pictures
on TV, in movies, adverts, printed media.
I have found that those
images or sounds have a pretty big impact on me that brings me into
quite an inner fight. There is a lot of discussion about masturbation
and I don't want to hop on the bandwagon now, but I found that for me
it is sin. I simply feel dirty and awful after it. So I try my best
to avoid movies or music or talks that contain these threats. Even if
that means I can't watch a certain series that everyone watches. Once
I find it's getting too much, I stop, even though I usually don't
stop in the middle of a movie and never pick it up again. It's not
easy. But it's worth it.
Find out what causes you
to sin.
“And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Where we know that we're
prone to temptation we shouldn't willingly go, as hard as it might be
for us. Ask God for help and he will help you. You might fall the
first times but keep going, it's worth it. And God doesn't judge you
– repent and he helps you, step by step.
So let us “cut off”
and “tear out” what causes us to sin – be careful with what you
see and hear – and let God do the miracle of turning us more and
more into his holy image.
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