Visual Death - When a Look Can Kill

This morning I was reading in Job 31 - a passage that deals with morality and the seriousness of impure thoughts, looks and actions. It can truly be said, a look can kill.

"I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high? Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity? Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? ....If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands; Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out. If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door; Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her. For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges. For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase."


Recall from James that a man is tempted by his own lust and when lust is conceived, it brings forth sin, and  sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. The look of lust can and will kill you. Solomon tells us that the place of the adulterous woman is the place of the dead and that many strong men are slain by her. But does this not just apply to the physical adultery? What can be so bad about a look? Job answers that adultery - even the looking upon a maid - is a fire that consumes to destruction. Jesus reveals that the look of lust is adultery. Paul agrees, saying, I had not known lust except that the law said, Thou shalt not commit adultery.

So young man, flee fornication and youthful lusts. Though the women of this world delight to expose their shame, the dead are there. Can a man take fire into his bosom and not be burned? Can a man look upon a woman with lust and not be harmed? Go not by the way of her street corner. Avoid temptation and set no wicked thing before your eyes: for if you harbor iniquity in your heart, God will not hear you.

Our world is a hideous world to live in - it is at war with purity. John says the whole world lies in wickedness. There is not a better way of stating it. Now more than ever it is clear that to be pure before God we must have the supernatural strength of the Spirit of God abiding in us. Consider this though - the state of affairs is the judgment of God on our people. If moral sin makes a man so low that he may be bought by a piece of bread, if it will consume him and remove all his substance, if by it the mighty are slain, then open and shameless uncovering of women all over society is a judgment against men for by it the vast majority of men - who are lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God - will be brought to destruction. But this is also a judgment against women. It is for their shame and destruction as well. In Isaiah 47:1-3, God says, "Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate. Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers. Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man."

How may we fight this destruction? By the love of one who is better than sin. And that one is Christ. For if we love Christ, we will do His commandments. If we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Be pure, O child of God, by loving Him who died for us and living every moment to the glory of our risen King.   

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.