Practical H.E.D.G.E.S. For Purity: Guard Your Eyes

After watching romantic movies, I fantasize the scenes and feel like experiencing it. That’s what drives me into those sexual activities.

I was just busy with something else on the internet, and then stumbled into it. Without paying much attention, I clicked. What! I became kind of curious. I clicked again… next, next, next… Checked my time – 11 pm. Over one hour passed. I lay on my bed and shut my eyes to sleep, but sleep was sleeping… All those images were awake. They swam through my mind fiercely. I was feeling funny… That was the beginning of my journey into porn, and then finding a way to feed the desperate hunger it brings. I know it isn’t right, but I don’t know how to stop…

Those are words drawn from life experiences of lots of young women. And reading through that, you could easily pick what paved the way to those immoral adventures – the EYES.

The significance of the eye to the body is clearly stated in 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!”

The devil has capitalized on this central impact of what we see, exploiting this powerful force in humanity – our sexuality. In Radiant Purity 1, we explained why our sexuality has such a powerful force – the love story it tells.

Everywhere and everything is being sexualized – movies, books, magazines, billboards, music, not to talk of the clothe-less people seen all over the place. It just appears that the more skin and sensuality, the more views, approvals and sales. So, even a toothpaste advert has to show some skin if it has to get someone’s attention.

Girl, don’t even think it’s just the boys those sexual images (graphics or words) affect. We are not left out of the scourge – the example above, and even your personal experiences can attest to that.

So, since it appears mankind can’t do without sensual content, is it even possible to keep your eyes off them, and pure? Why bother guarding the eyes?

The Light of the Body is the Eyes

Just like we saw in Matthew 6:22-23 – if your eye is single (focused, healthy, good), your whole body will be full of light (purity, righteousness); but if the eye is evil (impure, polluted), your body will be full of darkness.

The eye is the gate through which seeds enter your vineyard, get planted in the soil (your heart), and afterwards bear fruits.

So you see, guarding the eyes is a HEDGE that must be put up in the fight for sexual purity.

What Does the Sexual Content Foxes Do to Your Vineyard?

Whether the – steamy romance novel, the sexual scenes in movies, nude images and videos of porn – we must flee all those fleshly lust and appearances of evil, because…

1. They pollute the heart and body: “Our minds are like lenses that flash images onto our minds – like film in a camera – leaving a graphic impression on our thoughts and memories” (FireBible Commentary). When we sow a thought, we reap an action. If you sow immoral images, you’ll reap immoral actions.

Even a RAND Corporation research study reported that, “watching TV shows with sexual content apparently hastens the initiation of teen sexual activity”.

2. They cross your reasoning and go straight to your emotions: When your eyes are fixed on sexual content, signals are sent to the emotion center of the brain to release its neurotransmitters – dopamine, oxytocin… – hence the pleasure it elicits (You remember we discussed them in Radiant Purity 1, right?). At that moment, the reasoning part of your brain goes on vacation. Like the saying goes – “emotion beclouds sense of judgment”. Yes, it buries your reasoning. Your reasoning of what is proper, what the bible says, what you believe to be right, the outcome/consequences of your action…

That’s what happened to that great king – David. He saw the nude lady; his eyes were fixed on her, taking in what he saw. He forgot he was king, he forgot the battle going on… “Go call me that woman”. He forgot “thou shall not covet thy neighbor’s wife”, he couldn’t think of what that single act could result to… That LOOK caused him a lot!

Also, the brain-emotion response is the reason people get addicted to pornography. You remember the – feel-good, bond, want-some-more effect of those neurotransmitters…

3. They trivialize sin (make it seem less important or serious than it actually is): “Wow! I’m so happy for her”. “Thank God it ended well and sweet”. You remember – at the end of a movie or story – talking or thinking around those lines, right? In a group chat I’m part of, recently, a story was shared. It was littered with premarital sex, flirtation, adultery, and finally ended with a divorce and the lady getting married to her new found love – “and they lived happily after” (that’s how it’s said right?). My concern thereafter wasn’t the story, but the reactions of supposed “Christians” … 90% of the comments dropped were simply – happy and thanking God for her. And I’m wondering how we could just happily thank God over what He grieves about. “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” (Romans 1:32). You say it’s just a movie, huh? Just look at the next point…

“What a tragedy it is that I’ve sat idly by during movies and television shows and watched the very sin for which Christ had to die for being laughed about, even celebrated” (Joshua Harris).

4. They wear off your Christian Convictions and Principles: The things we feed our eyes with subtly and silently shape our view of reality, and slowly undermine the biblical truth and convictions in our hearts. If you think it won’t, ask Sister Eve (Genesis 3: 1-7). She’ll remind you of how she looked at that apple at the suggestion of the devil. But instead of quickly taking her eyes away and saying – “devil, get behind me” – she continued watching… Then she saw that – “the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise” (Genesis 3:6). She forgot God’s instruction – “Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die” (Genesis 3:3). How much biblical truth has the Church compromised due to the baggage of lies the worldly amusement have sold to us? That’s the reason the Bible says – “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11).

So now, what’s the way forward?

Set A Watch Over Your Eyes

“I made a covenant with mine eyes…” (Job 31:1). Let’s learn from Brother Job. To do that,…

1. Use your eyelids and neck: When your eyes meet that object that could fuel a sexual desire – that image on the TV or internet, that (TDH – tall, dark and handsome) boy that takes your breath away awakening something within – close your eyes, turn your neck, walk away… Take action! That’s the way to “flee youthful lust”. Crazy? You’ve got to do some radical things to save your soul from this sick world. (Proverbs 4:25, Psalm 119:37).
2. Review materials before watching/reading: “The wise man’s eyes is in his head…” (Eccl 2:14) – Ready to discover both the dangers that are to be avoided, and the advantages that are to be improved. Don’t just pick up anything and start watching/reading; check up reviews about it. If it suggests sensuality, just keep it away. There are lots of other beautiful things to read and watch.

If you happen to be watching or reading it only to start seeing mind polluting sexual scenes gradually showing up here and there – stop watching. Walk away! Be wise! Guard your eyes!

Sometimes, we think we could apply wisdom by fast forwarding it when it gets hot… So – kissing, fondling, undressing… we fast forward, and on and on. But is it really wisdom to take in little doses of poison? No! When those drops of water accumulate into a mighty ocean, it will drown you.

Wait! Let’s be honest here. Even if you fast-forward that crude part of the image Nolly/Holly/Bollywood had to show, how about MINDwood, can you fast forward it? Nah! The mind has a way of – filling in the missing gap. It completes the scene for you. If you’re pursuing Purity, why fuel the fire you’re trying to extinguish. (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)

3. Cut off from known sites and suggestions of worldly amusement: Hold on! I’m not saying you can’t watch movies or read novels and magazines again. But you know those places and materials that are given to stir up fleshly passions – cut them off. (Matthew 18:9). Some Christians think that soaking up all the world has to offer is just – being aware and abreast with our culture. But, do we really need all that if we say we’re pilgrims – on our way to heaven? Does someone on her way to India need a map of Nigeria. Having to know where Lagos, Kaduna and Enugu are has no relevance to your journey to India. What the person needs is the map of the world. And for us, that map is the – BIBLE. It gives us the picture needed to guide us through this world, and to our destination – Heaven. “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (2 Timothy 2:4).
4. Feed your eyes with pure, inspiring and educative materials: There are lots of good – books, movies, shows, music, novels – make them your companion and discard those filthy ones; then your whole body will be full of light.

Above all – “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:8)

Read the Bible Pray every day!

I’m Glued to Porn

“Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:22) – That’s God lovingly talking to you.

Go to Jesus today, confess to Him and ask for grace to overcome. Delete and destroy everything that links you to those images. Apply the tips we discussed above. Your life won’t be the same.

Also, look for a Godly matured lady around for counsel and encouragement, or contact me.

Eye Challenge

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think (LOOK) on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

So girl, hope you’re setting up your Purity HEDGES already? Next week, we’ll be looking at letter D. You don’t have to miss it. It’s a hot topic for ladies.

See you next Wednesday!

Yea! But before you walk away, I’ll love to hear from you. Drop your comments in the box below. Or, contact me here.

Let’s talk RADIANT PURITY!

Remain Radiant!