― Joshua Harris
So, this subject has really been on my heart lately. Well, to be honest it is always on my heart to share with people the importance of love and purity. But recently I have felt led to write a post about the danger of lust. Unfortunately so many have interpreted lust as having the same meaning as love. A lot of that nonsense comes from our media. Like boyfriends and girlfriends having sex, men talking about girls inappropriately and so on. And some how people seem to find stuff like this romantic. Because the world has blinded us to believe it is so. But let me tell you that lust and love are two totally different things, with total opposite meanings! Lust means to crave, to hunger, to covet, to yearn. It is filled with non satisfaction. You maybe satisfied for a few minutes maybe even longer. But eventually you will always end up hungry again, leaving you feeling depressed and desiring. But you see, that is not what God wants for you! He wants you to be loved over, not lusted over. He wants you to be cherished not just a play toy. God designed us and he knows how we work. He also designed sex and knows how it works. He created sex to be a guilt free gift with zero side affects and zero heartbreak. He doesn't tell us to wait until marriage just to sit back and watch us struggle. He cares for us and loves us enough to tell us to stay clear of lust because he knows the dangers of it. He knows the horrible things that follow after lust which is death, bondage, greed, confusion, failing and self- condemnation.
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
James 1:14-15
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:28
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world 1 John 2:16
Instead, He wants us to know the power of love that brings life, freedom, receiving, understanding and forgiveness. He doesn't want you to experience death but life, and life more abundantly!
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails!
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:14
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8
Lust is Satan's #1 tool to use when he tries to end relationships and marriages. Because he hates them so much! Especially when he sees that a certain relationship is glorifying God and desires to glorify Him.
Why does he try so hard to destroy a Jesus loving relationship? Because he fears the power in it.
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:19-20
If there is just one who can do all things through Christ who strengthens them. Imagine what two as one can conquer through Christ! Satan fears that. So he wants to do all he can to destroy it! And unfortunately he knows a great weakness in a lot of relationships is lust. So he runs with it by planting weeds at the door of your mind. By telling you things such as " Well, you guys are going to get married anyways. So why not? And "You guys love each other so it's okay"
It's so important that you destroy those thoughts before they reach the finish line. Because sex out of marriage can destroy the love that was there! Even if it feels right. Which makes sense because you were meant to be together, and you are meant to give yourself to one another. But the timing is wrong if it's not in marriage and the right thing at the wrong time is the wrong thing. By letting that weed grow around your mind your allowing captivity not only in your relationship, but in yourself as well. When you just don't want any part of the relationship and temptation anymore. You decide to just break off what was once beautiful. The woman is left feeling disrespected, unworthy, and shamed. Feeling anger toward the man who is supposed to be protecting her sexual purity and honor. And the man is left feeling lonely,shameful, insecure, a failure and disconnected because he deeply feels rejected by the woman knowing he hurt her. You see, there is not just one victim but two. And slowly they depart. Destroying something that was once beautiful into a heartbroken memory. This is why it is so important to destroy the weed as soon as it's planted and to not encourage it by adding water. This is why God tells us to wait. Because waiting will make a marriage stronger!
