In the previous postings we established the Biblical fact that whatever enters the eyes (and ears) enters the mind and remains there forever. Considering the truth of the saying that: “A picture is worth a thousand words,” we will focus on the eyes and their importance in the life of salvation seekers for the remainder of this series. After seeing a sight, how easily we remember it afterwards depends on the number of times that sight has been viewed in the past and will be viewed in the future. Something we see every day is always resting near the surface of our mind, ready to come into focus in the present. This is why those who repeatedly view pornography repeatedly think about what they have seen.

Due to Satan’s influence on the mental workings of the mind, the sights that are orchestrated by him are powerfully addictive. A tobacco addict is not addicted after smoking one cigarette, but rather after smoking many cigarettes. The same is true concerning spiritual addiction. Spiritual addiction can be either good or evil. Good and evil are spiritual in nature. The Bible can be addictive just as can pornography. Pornography is an excellent example of evil addiction. Today, illicit sex has more views per year than all sports productions combined, and the addiction is growing in popularity. The simple rule of sight addiction is that the more a sight is seen, the more often it comes to mind when it is not physically visible. Conversely, the fewer times the object in question is seen, the less often it comes to mind, and the less likely it is to become addictive.

For this reason the Lord tells us many times in His Holy Bible to be very selective in our sight choices. When the choice is ours, we are commanded to look only on those things that God approves. The Scriptures make it clear that what we perceive enters the MIND (heart) and remains there. Being free moral agents, we are in control of what we perceive (see, hear) in most situations. This Truth is made clear in Philippians 2:5 where the Apostle Paul tells us to “LET (our choice) this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus.” He also notes that “they who are of the flesh (sin) MIND (THINK ABOUT) THE THINGS OF THE FLESH, and that they who are of the Spirit (holiness) MIND THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT” (Rom. 8:5). The question is: WHAT DO WE CHOOSE TO ALLOW INTO OUR MINDS? In Romans 12:2 the Lord, through Paul, tells us that we must be transformed (converted) by the RENEWING OF OUR MINDS. This is possible only if WE control the things we CHOOSE to look upon and choose that which is good. The porn addict can develop a right mind only if he stops viewing pornography and focuses on the things of the Lord. The same rule applies to everything in this life. The ultimate question in every situation is: WOULD JESUS DELIBERATELY VIEW THIS SCENE?

The same rule holds true regardless of what we choose to watch. I was once a sports and cop show addict. Upon asking for help from the Lord, He freed me from my addictions, instantly, literally in mid-step as I was on my way to watch a boxing match on television. I asked Him to take out of my mind every desire that was not of Him. He did so BECAUSE HE KNEW I WAS TOTALLY SERIOUS. Today, I have no desire to watch sports and cop shows, to read novels, etc. I do not miss them even to the slightest degree. What I once was addicted to now has absolutely no effect on me.

Before my deliverance, I SERVED TWO MASTERS. During that time I was preaching, healing the sick, casting out demons, etc. I even brought a man back to life who had been dead for several days. God was using me in spite of me because I believed His Word without question. But that was not enough. In order to please Him and to fulfill His will for my life, I HAD TO DIE TO EVERYTHING THAT IS NOT OF HIM. For what He has called me to do in these final days of the age, I can have nothing within me that is not God manifesting Himself through my words, thoughts and acts. Read about His call on my life using the key word–Gun. Through His Holy Spirit power I am free. I praise the Holy God for being so kind to this unworthy soul.

Because I have received such help from the Lord, I can, with total authority, tell you what to do relative to this subject. What I must include at this point is the fact that during the years of my sports and cop show addiction, I WAS EXTREMELY RELIGIOUS. I was a three-times-a-week church attender and daily Bible reader. However, I spent some four hours each day WATCHING t.v. and 30 minutes each day READING the Bible. I WAS SERVING TWO MASTERS. Do not be impressed by those who have great ministries, etc. and believe that they must be right with God. Recall that Israel rose to its highest renowned when Solomon was her king. God used Him to build His Temple and to rule Israel during that time. However, Solomon was one of the most vile, wicked kings ever to rule God’s chosen people.

Man thinks about what he spends the most of his free time concentrating on. Remember that, in the eyes of God, what we THINK ABOUT the most is what we BECOME. We prioritize our preferences. What we voluntarily do the most is what we think about the most and what we value the most. Four hours of t.v. watching versus 30 minutes of Bible study …. You get the picture.

What I was doing during my addiction days is what 99.99% of professing Christians are doing today and have been doing for generations. In order to spend eternity with the Lord we must PRIORITIZE OUR TIME AND OUR PREFERENCES. What we are viewing is what we are thinking about. WHAT WE ARE THINKING ABOUT, IN GOD’S VIEW, IS WHAT WE ARE. The more we view a thing, the more that thing remains in our conscious mind and, spiritually, the more we become that thing. Again, WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS WHAT WE ARE THINKING ABOUT.

It is for this reason that Paul told the Philippian Church: “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, THINK ON THESE THINGS” (4:8). To do so we must look on those things. Let us look on the things of righteousness when the choice is ours. Turn off the t.v., lay down the book or magazine, turn off the radio. Study the Holy Scriptures, listen to them on your way to and from work, shopping, etc. I highly recommend Scripture memorization.

When we deliberately view the things of the world, then read the Bible we are SERVING TWO MASTERS. Read what Jesus said to the modern day (Laodicean) church in Revelation 3:14-20 about doing exactly that. Today’s Laodiceans believe that all is well while serving both God and Satan. Man’s opinion concerning any situation is irrelevant; how God views it is all that matters. How we use our “free time” is vitally important in that it reveals our priorities. God must not be number one; He must be the only one. Trust me, when you reach that point, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS AND YOU WOULD NOT HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY. My motto is: LET THE WORLD HAVE THE WORLD, JUST GIVE ME THE LORD. THE BIBLE IS GOD IN PRINT FORM. THE MAN JESUS OF NAZARETH WAS GOD IN HUMAN FORM. WITH HIM WE MUST BE ABLE TO SAY: “WHEN YOU HAVE SEEN ME, YOU HAVE SEEN THE FATHER.” We must continue to grow in righteousness until “we come to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). Those who do so will be His “first fruits” who will rise in the first resurrection. Read The Three Resurrections. Key word–Three.

As noted in Scripture, HOW WE USE (REDEEM) OUR FREE TIME REVEALS OUR PRIORITIES. WHAT WE DO DURING THAT TIME REVEALS WHAT WE VALUE THE MOST. LET US USE THAT TIME PURIFYING OUR MINDS BY THE CONTINUOUS WASHING BY THE WATER THAT IS THE WORD OF GOD (Eph. 5:26). Take it from me, when God knows that you mean business, He will remove all desires that are contrary to His will. What the church masses believe to be impossible–TOTAL SANCTIFICATION (SEPARATION) UNTO GOD–is not only possible, IT IS COMMANDED. Only those who obey His command will rise to meet Him in the clouds upon Christ’s return. L.J.