Battle against lust

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. - 2 Timothy 2:22

The mistake I made was trying to read in bed by lamplight. We were in the jungles of Colombia, South America, and I should have known better. Within minutes, thousands of tiny bugs were flying in circles around the lamp.

I jumped up, turned on the ceiling light, and turned off the light by the bed. Immediately, these pesky insects flew to the top of the room and began to circle that light. Next, I opened the door to the hallway and turned on the hall light, then turned off the ceiling light in the bedroom. Off they flew into the hallway and began to fly circles around the light in the hall.

I quickly shut the door, kept all lights off in the bedroom, and had a good night's sleep. The next morning when I stepped into the hallway, there they were--thousands of insects dead on the floor directly under the light. They had circled hundreds of times, then got too close and were killed.

Friend, I have seen a similar thing happen to people who play around with sexual lust. Like these insects, they flit around and finally go too far. I watched this happen to a friend of mine who seemed to be a dedicated Christian. He was a handsome guy who easily attracted women. When we ate together in a restaurant, he'd often kid around with the waitress, making some witty remark, and the two of them would laugh and wink and flirt with each other. Then it happened. He got caught up in a sexual sin and today he is not serving God.

Beware! Lust is a powerful enemy.

Prayer

Lord, Your Word says that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Help me to honor You with my body. Amen.