"I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?" Job 31:1

As Job continues to struggle through the trials God has allowed Satan to burden him with, he spoke those words. He was in the middle of a self exam, trying to understand what he may have done wrong in order to provoke the harm and hurt he has been dealing with. It is in these words that Job and God teach us a simple truth, with an extremely practical application.

Do you think the Bible isn't relevant to today's culture? Take a look around, what do you see?If you have the tv on or are in a more public location I can almost guarantee that you see something to do with sex. Unfortunately what is likely being portrayed is not heathly, although it may be displayed in the name of health or healthy living, but rather it is completely destructive. Job's words are completely relevant, and deal with a modern issue. Sexual sin.

Today's world is filled with the promotion of sexual sin. Pornography is available everywhere, in any media format you can think of. The commercials on tv prime our young people, teaching them that sex anytime anywhere with anyone is, well, frankly cool. Sit coms make humor of porn, raising the appeal and removing the sense that it is sinful. But it is sinful and its effects are devastating, as all sin is.

This week I heard familiar words in conversation with a friend, learning about a failed marriage. The words: "I don't love you anymore, actually I haven't loved you for a long time". It isn't always fair to generalize, but I've heard those words 2 other times almost verbatim. The cause: pornography, eventually resulting in futher sexual sin and the destruction of the marriage.

Men, pornography is a slippery slope. It starts with something as simple as a Victoria Secrets tv commercial, a google search, or a walk past the magazine rack. You take a peek, 'its okay, just a quick peek'. Often the rest can be history. This is why Job's advice is SO CRITICAL!! I made a covenant with my eyes. Men, you put safety glasses on to protect your eyes when using a saw, a welder, a grinder. But we often forget to protect our eyes from the real dangers in life.

Let me tell you that there is hope. If you have failed, God will forgive and can restore you. It begins with Jesus Christ. You see we are unable to meet God's standard, so he made a way for us. Not of ourselves, but of His grace and mercy. God sent his son, Jesus, down to earth as a man to die in our place. Jesus did that on the cross of crucification, at the hands of man. He [Jesus] was buried in a tomb, but raised again to life by God and showed himself to more than 500 people on several occasions. God then took him up to heaven, and will send him again for those who believe at the assigned time. He will grant external life to those who believe. The gift isn't just for eternity though! His forgiveness offers us freedom from bondage of sin, like pornography, hatred and pride. Today you can be free.

If you want to know more about is freedom, let me know. I would love to help you out.