A recent study discovered that the porn industry made over 13 billion dollars worldwide last year. This is more profit than the National Football League, the premiere professional sports industry in the United States. Then again, this might explain why advertisers create promiscuous commercials year after year to target a younger audience. Based upon the statistics of pornographic viewership, at some point in the process of temptation X-rated thoughts are becoming a lifestyle.
Then it happened in the spring, at the time when the kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all [the fighting men of] Israel, and they destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem, 2 Samuel 11:1.
Like any bad habit or an addictive behavior, there is usually a pattern that leads up to engaging in the actual act of sin. Step one begins when individuals have idle time. In the passage above, David didn’t go to work. Each spring when the snow melted and roads were passable, kings went out to work to defend their borders or expand their territory using force. For some reason, David lost interest, searching for something else to do in life.
One evening David got up from his couch and was walking on the [flat] roof of the king’s palace, and from there he saw a woman bathing; and she was very beautiful in appearance, 2 Samuel 11:2.
Step 2 often goes hand in hand as boredom is a byproduct of idleness. Free time can cause human minds to wander. In the passage above, David was star gazing when an open window revealed a beautiful naked woman. Instead of going back to the stars, David was fixated on each physical feature of her body. After an initial subtle glance, lust conceived within David’s heart, opening the door for step 3, enticement.
David sent word and inquired about the woman. Someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” – 2 Samuel 11:3.
Enticement feeds on human nature using appeal, bewitchment and charm. As if minds are trying to use logic to justify the thought of any wrong doing, enticement weakens souls. While some may turn back after being enticed, day dreaming, fantasizing and ungodly passions take most people beyond the point of no return. The only thing left is engaging in the actual act of sin. Unfortunately, this is where common sense is abandoned as David disregarded the fact that this naked woman was married. Enticement drags curious souls into a web of darkness that few escape or recover from.
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God” [for temptation does not originate from God, but from our own flaws]; for God cannot be tempted by [what is] evil, and He Himself tempts no one. 14 But each one is tempted when he is dragged away, enticed and baited [to commit sin] by his own [worldly] desire (lust, passion). 15 Then when the illicit desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin has run its course, it gives birth to death, James 1:13-15.
The passage above details how and why an X-rated mind can become a lifestyle. The author of this book is credible, the earthly brother of Jesus who likely had a few minutes with him before his ascension into heaven. James warns believers against blaming God for the choices they have made in life. Those who give into temptation have placed themselves into environments that usually result in sin. Therefore. if your minds is leading you where you don’t want to go, take the advice of the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 so that X-rated minds can be cleansed and made whole.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 