By John Robin Murphy
Even though most people anonymously engage in pornography through the internet, we are never alone as Christians. Satan would have people believe that they are isolated and that no one else is impacted by their behavior. The truth is that God lives in us through the Holy Spirit, and whenever we make a decision to reject God’s will, He is grieved – just as any father would be who loves his child and can only watch as they ignore his warnings and injure themselves.
There have been many times, most often in my early Christian days, when I would wrestle with doing the right thing in my life. Often, I would come to the conclusion that I couldn’t do the right thing for myself or my family or friends, but that I could do it for God. After all, He gave me a life worth living and deserves my love expressed through my obedience.
We all need to connect with “the cause greater than our own” to successfully navigate life. It moves us from a self-centered lifestyle to recognizing that we have a greater purpose. In fact, a divine purpose built into us by God that can only be filled by honoring him in our lives.
King David’s son Solomon literally experienced every flesh-driven indulgence that money could buy, and concluded that it was all vanity and that none of it gave him peace or joy. These two quotes from his writings provide the compelling wisdom for a successful Christ-centered life.
“…He(God) also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy]” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 AMP).
“All has been heard; the end of the matter is: Fear God [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is] and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man [the full, original purpose of his creation, the object of God’s providence, the root of character, the foundation of all happiness, the adjustment to all inharmonious circumstances and conditions under the sun] and the whole [duty] for every man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13 AMP).
If the priority in your life is to please God before yourself, this scripture proclaims that you are on your way to breaking the bondage of pornography. That depth of faith is referred to in Scripture as “having the mind of Christ.” Peter makes it clear where the power to overcome sin’s control emanates.
“SO, SINCE Christ suffered in the flesh for us, for you, arm yourselves with the same thought and purpose [patiently to suffer rather than fail to please God]. For whoever has suffered in the flesh [having the mind of Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [has stopped pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God]” (1 Peter 4:1 AMP)
It is foolishness to the world, but the truth is that freedom comes from obedience. The life we want comes from dying to our self-will. No, we will never be free of sin in this life, but Scripture promises that we can be free of intentional, premeditated, planned-out, sought-after sin behavior if we hunger to please God. He is the one true God who gave you eternal life and the opportunity to live an abundant life free of agitating passions and the shame of sin. He lives in you and is always with you. You never sin alone.
If you are ready to honor the Creator and begin to gain ground over pornography or any sin pattern you are struggling to control, I recommend starting with a prayer something like this.