The Lust of the Eyes

The lust of the Eyes

Some say that the eyes are the windows to the soul if this is true then many of the windows are broken and the souls of many are doomed, for it is written, “Love not the world neither the things that are in the world if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him. 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 is of the world.” 1st John 2:15-16

There are three things listed in 1st John chapter 2:16 and these three things are the only ways that Satan can manipulates us; today we will be focusing on the lust of the eyes.

We will begin our look at the lust of the eyes from the book of Matthew chapter 4 where we find Jesus being tempted by Satan in the wilderness for it is written, “ the devil takes Jesus up into an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and said unto him, all these things will I give thee, if you will fall down and worship me.” Matthew 4:8-9

Satan tried to use the lust of the eyes on our Lord and Savor Jesus Christ; he offered Jesus the cities of the world and all the riches that came with them if he would worship him.

Satan uses worldly images to draw us away from following God, to get us to worship him through worshipping things. The images are personally hand picked by Satan from the time we are born, projecting them before us until we have give into them.

He has subliminally programmed us to trust in our eyes, through television, magazines, news papers, billboards, and advertisements, we have come to believe that whatever he shows us is successful is the meaning of success, whatever he presents as being attractive is the meaning of beauty, whatever he displays as living is the meaning of a good life, whatever he deems to be just is the meaning of a law abiding citizen.

Satan is the god of this world and therefore the things of this world are at his disposal to display them whatever way he wishes that you may be lured by the lust of your eyes for it is written, “ But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world (Satan) has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2nd Corinthians 4:3-4

But Jesus was not fooled by the lust of the eyes and neither should we be fooled for it is written, “ Then Jesus said unto him, get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, thou shall worship the Lord thy God, and him only shall thou serve.” Matthew 4:10

We are to worship God and ought not to be drawn away after worldly things presented to us through the lust of the eyes.

The eyes of a person can easily mislead them for it is written, “ For we are to walk by faith and not by sight.” 2nd Corinthians 5:7

Satan is the master of advertisement, the advertisers of McDonald can get you to think that a Big Mac is the best hamburger on earth, the advertisers of Mercedes can get you to believe that their car is able to drive on water, The advertisers of Vodka can get you to believe that life is wonderful for an alcoholic, but Satan can put them all to shame because he is able to get people to disobey God for what they have seen with their eyes.

God commanded that Adam and Eve should not eat of a certain tree of the Garden of Eden but Satan took that tree and made it look so desirable to the eyes that Eve could not resist for it is written, “ and when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” Genesis 3:6

Through the lust of the eyes the master deceiver had set the trap for Adam and Eve, now let us hear the words of the master advertiser at work, “ and the serpent (Satan) said unto the woman, you shall not surely die: For God knows that in the day that you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5

Notice how Satan always contradicts the word of God for it is written, “ Labor not to be rich: cease from your own wisdom.” Proverb 23:4

And again, “ for it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:25

Yet every image we see tells us the opposite, according to the lust of the eyes being rich is the way to go, according to this evil world the rich life is better than living your life for God.

Don’t be a fooled by the lust of the eyes for it is the trick of Satan and the way to disobedience!

The Bible says, “ For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the Faith (of God) and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1st Timothy 6:10

Satan shows us all that this world has to offer, he has showcased the finest of all that he has, the best of the fortune and fame, the best physiques and shapely bodies, the best clothing and foot wear, the best of lands and houses, cars and planes, trips and vacation spots, and the most beautiful faces in the world, that you may lust after them to such a degree that you forget the words of God for it is written, “ Set your affection on things in heaven and not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2

God commanded us not to covet after worldly things in the book of Exodus chapter 20 verses 17. But Satan wants us to ignore God, he wants us to follow after our eyes, desiring to have things that lead not to any eternal salvation for it is written, “ For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” 1st Timothy 6: 7

Don’t let your eyes or the eyes of anyone else cause you to lose you soul, for there are many false preachers out there teaching you to fall into the trap of the lust of the eyes for it is written, “ men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw yourself.” 1st Timothy 6:5

Men and women that are not married are not to look upon one another in a lustful manner for it is written, “ But I say to you, who so ever looks upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Matthew 5:28

Ladies, you were not exclude from this passage of scripture, so the next to Satan shows a commercial full of shirtless men or sexiest man magazine make sure you examine yourself with God to assure that your soul is not in jeopardy due to the lust of the eyes.

Married people do not be fooled saying to yourselves, “ I am married but not dead” thinking that it is ok to look upon the opposite sex in a lustful manner, believing that as long as you don’t touch them that it is ok with God for it is written, “ Thou shall not desire (covet) thy neighbor’s wife.” Deuteronomy 5:21

And again, “ Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord.” Ephesians 5:22

Satan has caused many people to stray from God with the lust of the eyes, Lot’s wife eyes mislead her to being turn into a pillar of salt, King Solomon’s eyes mislead him to marry many different women that worshipped the Devil, King David’s eyes mislead him into the arms of a married woman, Judas Iscariot’s eyes mislead him to 30 pieces of silver and the betrayal of Jesus Christ.

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore your eye were single, your whole body shall be full of light. But if your eye be evil, your whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other, you cannot serve God and mammon (the lust of the eyes). Matthew 6:22-24

Keep your eyes on Jesus Christ! Always having your eyes focused on his return, not being distracted by the gilt and glamour of this evil world but with great discipline holding fast to the Word of God.

The Bible says that a true servant of God does not even talk about wanting a bunch of worldly things, they do not think on one another as sexual objects for it is written, “ Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

Brothers and Sisters, don’t let Satan deceive you with the lust of the eyes for there is nothing down here on this earth worth losing your soul over, I don’t care how good he might make it look for it is written, “ What does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his own soul or what shall a man exchange for his soul.” Mark 8:37

Keep you eyes on the prize, which is eternal life through Christ Jesus.

Until next time I love you


Minister Lamar F. Porter

5/16/2010