Have you ever wondered why there are so many divorces in America? and I would say in Europe too, but many there have just quit marrying and are just cohabiting. Their relationships aren't any better though. Their land is just as filled with lonely empty people as ours. Lonely people that are married and lonely people that are not. And yes, you can be married and be lonely.
I think it is because in a lot of ways our culture is very similar in what it sells us. Our modern day, tech-savvy, civilized culture peddles lust like it's a commodity. And why not, lust is very good at selling. It whispers in your ear that you deserve IT, that you should really want IT, that everyone else has IT and so why not you. Why should you be left out in the cold without IT?
But lust is tricky and sneaky. Lust draws that line in the sand and says "Comer over here and get IT and you will be happy." And you answer the call. How lucky can you be, happiness was just right there and all you have to do is step over and grab it. But then lust moves the line on you. Your are standing on what you thought was the happiness line but now you see it over there. Like chasing the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Lust moved the line.And it's a little further down this slope. And you can't really see where it leads. But the road looks easy and broad and well traveled. Its downward slope is so easy to travel, hardly no effort is required. But lust is deceitful. What it will not tell you is that the road leads to a dark valley where happiness and joy cannot be found.
God in his infinite wisdom warns us about lust, it is not good for us, it is not from Him. (1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the
lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of
the world.) Lust is mentioned specifically 67 times in the KJV but implied way more times than that. It is one of the first emotions that Satan appeals to when he is talking to Eve in the garden of Eden. First he lies to her (Ye shall not surely die - Gen 3:4), then appeals to her pride (God just don't want you to know all He knows, He wants to keep you in the dark because you are a competition threat - Gen 3:5) and that is enough to get Eve to look at the fruit in a different manner and lust after it (Gen 3:6). Just like our culture sells us. Diet sodas will make you skinny, sex will make you happy, and going deeper into debt to buy stuff you don't need to impress people you don't like is the way to become wealthy (or at least appear to be). And we buy into it.
Why do we? I think at the root of it all we have mistaken lust for love. And it is easy to do. Lust is actually the counterfeit of love. It's a look-alike, it just doesn't have the value of love. It is vain and empty. Like a knock off Coach purse. It looks good from far away but those who know the real thing aren't fooled. And love is hard. It is the road uphill, less traveled. It has rocks on it, it takes effort to go that way. It's a struggle, a battle you have to wage every day. But that road leads up to the mountain top. And as you climb and fight your way on that hard road, you find that love was there all along. Because love is an action verb. Love is not just a warm fuzzy feeling. Love sacrifices, love is patient, love makes you put others before you. There is no envy in love and no bragging (1 Cor 13). Love is what put Christ on the cross (John 3:16).
And so the take away from this short post is that if society is selling you counterfeit love, run in the opposite direction. Dare to take the road less traveled, dare to be weird, dare to not buy into the world's message because it leads to sin and death. "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." Jas 1:15 But we are called to be much more than that "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Rom 12:2 So tell the world "No thanks, I'll pass" and then live differently. How do you do that? Well, Paul tells us that right in that verse, be transformed. How do you transform yourself? By the renewing of your mind. It reminds me of a quote Dave Ramsey uses a lot, by Charlie Tremedous Jones, and it goes something like this: "In 5 years you will be the same person you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read". You can't always control the people you meet but you can certainly control the books you read. So what are you feeding your mind? May I recommend a best-seller? It has been on the New York Times best seller list so long that they no longer list it since it is a given that it is first ... the Bible. Feed your mind with the word of God and you will grow from it, and with it you will overcome the world. (2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust)
