What
are you setting before YOUR eyes?
What is your favorite
television program? What was the last movie you saw at the theater? What DVD’s
are in your collection? What kinds of things are YOU setting before your
eyes? I’m asking you these questions because what you set before your eyes is
of grave importance and could have serious consequences to your body, mind, and
soul.
Personally, I am amazed
at the ways professed Christians entertain themselves. They view horror movies,
watch soap operas, and go to the theater regularly to see all of the same R-
and PG-13-rated movies that the rest of the unsaved world is viewing. It
doesn't seem to matter to these Christians at all that they are being
entertained by scenes of immorality (adultery, fornication, lying, stealing,
violence, profanity); wickedness (murder, sorcery, the occult); and blasphemy
with the taking of the Lord’s name in vain. In fact, if you ask them what they think
of these productions, they will gleefully tell you how GOOD and/or interesting
the shows are and even highly recommend that you start viewing them as well. This
lack of discernment that Christians seem to have regarding what they entertain
themselves with makes me think of this verse: "There is a generation that
are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness" (Proverbs
30:12).
You might be thinking,
"Well, what is the big deal? It's just entertainment, make-believe. I'm
not participating in anything bad myself. I'm just watching some actors
tell a story." But that's where you are wrong. It is a big deal. There is
SO much in the bible showing us how big of a deal this is that I hope you will
take the time to read each of the verses below that I will now share with you
to illustrate this point that I am trying to convey. Well, let's get started.
* First of all, all sin begins in the mind.
And what is the main sense that we have that gets our mind stimulated? Our
eyes. So those things that we view really do shape our thoughts, our desires.
They give us ideas, examples, and set our imaginations aflame. And the world
and the Prince of this world, Satan, knows this and is only too happy to use
this medium of television to capture you, brainwash you, and shape your mind to
long after things in opposition to the Lord. And that's why God gave us verses
such as these to warn us to diligently guard our eyes:
Matthew 6:22-23, "The light of the body
is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full
of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of
darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is
that darkness!"
Our eyes truly are the
windows to our soul. If you are STARING at a screen and filling your eyes with
evil, worldly programs, you are filling your whole body with darkness, possibly
inviting devils themselves into your mind and being. It's that serious! Also, you are deadening your sensitivity to
sin by repeatedly viewing scenes of immorality being played out. What was once shocking becomes common and
acceptable. You begin to have trouble
discerning evil from good.
There is certain judgment
coming for unrepentant folks who fornicate, murder, invent evil things, and break
God's other commandments. The bible says these people are worthy of death. So why
are you taking pleasure in watching these sins played out on a screen anyway?
Is it because your life is already filled with similar behavior and you find
solace in watching others act out the sins that you partake of? Romans 1:32,
"... who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things
are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do
them." Proverbs 2:13-14, “Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in
the ways of darkness; Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness
of the wicked.”
Or maybe you really are
striving to live a sin-free life and you truly don’t understand what the big
deal is about watching certain shows. Friend, don’t you want to love the things
that God loves and hate the things that God hates? It is not enough for you to
not commit adultery, fornication, and immorality. You ALSO should not
find entertainment or enjoyment in viewing others who are committing this
lewdness. It is not enough that you keep your hands from violence and your
mouth from profane speech. You ALSO should not bring this filth into your home
or your mind by way of cable TV or weekend dates at the movies. I can’t say,
"Oh, I would never steal or lie or cheat," and then turn around and
spend hours eating popcorn while I happily watch others break God's laws. God hates sin, and so should you. If your
eyes have been opened to what sin is, you should be living a changed life. Perhaps
the old hell-bound you was once a fan of horror movies or shows like Sex in
the City or those daily soap operas, but the new you should desire those
things that are righteous and holy and wholesome. You should be sensitive to
sin and shun it wherever you can, including sin on your TV. You should show
some discretion and obey verses like these below that are found in God's Word:
Psalm 101:3, "I will set no
wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it
shall not cleave to me."
2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if any man
be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all
things are become new."
Ephesians 5:11:12, "And have no fellowship
with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a
shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret."
1 Thessalonians 5:22, "Abstain from all
appearance of evil."
2 Corinthians 7:1, "Having therefore these
promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness
of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
Job 11:14, If iniquity be in thine hand,
put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
Romans 13:12, "The night is far spent,
the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us
put on the armor of light."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* God is watching all
that we do, say, and view. If Jesus Himself were in your home sitting on the couch with you,
would you have the same television line-up? If He were behind you as you
purchased your movie tickets, would you be more selective in your choice of
films? Well, guess what? Nothing YOU view is outside of HIS view. Are you
making Him proud or grieving His heart by your entertainment choices? Here are
more verses for you to consider:
Psalm 94:9, "He that planted the
ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?"
Proverbs 15:3, "The eyes of the Lord
are in every place, beholding the evil and the good."
Ezekiel 8:12, "Then said he unto me, Son
of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the
dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? For they say, The Lord seeth us
not; the Lord hath forsaken the earth."
1 Chronicles 29:17, "I know also, my God, that
thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness."
Ezekiel 20:7, "Then said I unto them, Cast
ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves
with the idols of Egypt: I am the Lord your God."
Ezekiel 6:9, "... I am broken with their
whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a
whoring after their idols: and they shall loathe themselves for the evils
which they have committed in all their abominations." (God wants ALL of us, including our eyes)
Proverbs 23:26, "My son, give me thine
heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways."
The world is trying to
tell you a vision (tel-e-vision) and God is trying to tell you His vision (in
the Holy Bible). The world's vision is of lasciviousness, immorality, and
rebelliousness. God's vision is of holiness, righteousness, and the preserving
of your soul. Which altar do you spend more time at: the one you have erected
for your big screen TV or the one where you spend quiet time with the Lord?
Which one is shaping your life and the lives of your sons and daughters? Do
your children look like children who take after Jesus, or do they resemble
children who take after the heathenish people portrayed in videos and TV shows
that you have allowed into your home? Are you growing daily in the knowledge of
the Lord, or has your spiritual walk been derailed because you can no longer
discern good from evil?
In conclusion, just know
that you cannot take fire into your bosom and not get burned. What you set
before your eyes truly is of grave importance. You cannot call what is evil
good “as long as it is in the form of entertainment.”
And if you still don't
believe that it matters what you watch, Satan has already got the victory. The
hedge of protection has been broken. You have willingly left yourself and your
family wide open to recruitment by and invasion of devils. Woe unto you! Isaiah 5:20,
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil;
that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet,
and sweet for bitter!"
(More on this topic
can be found here at The
Stranger and here at Comfortable
in the darkness).