Previously, we talked about how important it is to not stop or look back. This battle is a lifelong struggle and needs constant momentum. If you pause, there’s a high chance of regression. If we don’t keep pushing forward, there’s a danger of slipping.
If we don’t push forward, it shows our lack of commitment to following Jesus. We’re not standing our ground as discussed in the previous post.
Perhaps it’s because we still yearn for our old days and the satisfaction that comes from viewing pornographic images and websites. We disregard all the warning signs and push aside the feelings we experience after giving in to masturbation. It leaves us feeling empty, drained, and always craving more, with no sense of inner peace.
Elijah tells you to choose between God and idols instead of going back and forth.
And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” (1 Kings 18:21).
The dangers of constantly fluctuating on our overall well-being.
Imagine a marble on a horizontal surface. If you pull it from the right, it goes to the right. Similarly, if you pull it from the left, it goes to the left. In both cases, the energy inside the marble is transferred in the direction it is moving. Now, let’s consider a scenario where there is a force pulling the marble from the left and another force pulling from the right. This situation may result in the marble not moving at all. As a result, the energy that coming from both forces from the right and the left will cause the marble to heat up.
When you hold both God’s hand and Satan’s hand, neither of them will let go. You cling to Jesus because you believe He is the only one who can save you. Deep down, you know it’s the right choice. However, you’re reluctant to let go of sin because of the temporary pleasure it brings. Being caught between these two forces will lead to depression, anxiety, and mental illness. Your sleep will suffer, and your days will lack focus. Ultimately, your life will lack purpose.
No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. (Matthew 6:24).
In the sower’s parable, those who constantly switch between two teams are like plants that grow on the surface. Perhaps you can find motivation from the Bible, a prayer, or even the words you are reading right now. You feel a surge of excitement and tell yourself that you can overcome anything.
However, over the time, that enthusiasm fades away and you crumble. You lack depth with God, so when temptation arises like the scorching sun, you wither and eventually perish.
Living an undecided life leads to misery. I know this firsthand, as I have lived it for a very long time. It feels like you are going nowhere, stuck in the same cycle, unable to find true satisfaction in porn, or feel pure living with Jesus. It is a miserable existence. The days drift by slowly, while the years slip away, leaving you feeling frozen at the same stage you were decades ago. Meanwhile, your friends are progressing and achieving things, while you remain stagnant in today’s world, just as you were years ago.
The king and the prostitute
Picture a king who adored a prostitute and brought her to his palace, fulfilling her every desire and making her his queen.
So you were adorned with gold and silver; your clothes were of fine linen and costly fabric and embroidered cloth. Your food was honey, olive oil and the finest flour. You became very beautiful and rose to be a queen. And your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign Lord.
But you trusted in your beauty and used your fame to become a prostitute. You lavished your favors on anyone who passed by and your beauty became his. (Ezekiel 16:13-15).
Take a moment to reflect on your life. Whether you are a teenager or an old man, you were born in his image – the image of a king. He has taken care of you all these years. Not a single day went by when you slept hungry or struggled in the cold. He may have given you a good reputation among your friends and a strong career that can secure your future. Instead of being thankful and faithful, you ignored his voice and used the gifts that God blessed you with – whether it’s money, time, or health – to indulge yourself in the world of porn. Do you see the resemblance to the verse above?
Then God, with His love, warns her.
I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. (Revelation 3:15).
One might perceive “vomit” as a harsh word, and indeed it is. However, it also serves as a warning to each soul that chooses darkness. He is the light and seeks to illuminate your heart. If you decide to keep half of it in darkness, he will leave you to your own methods, allowing you to self-destruct. Do not quench the Spirit. If you put out the Spirit’s fire, you will be left alone in your darkness. Take a moment to reflect on the damage this habit has caused you; it is all a consequence of it.
Furthermore, God, with his love and mercy, prevents even greater dangers from befalling us. If he were to let all the evil powers to fight us, they would consume us entirely.
Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth. (Psalms 124:6).
Hanging between two teams can be dangerous. It can dampen your spirit and delay God’s protection. Every time you relapse, you prolong this process. You see, God remains the same today, yesterday, and forever. He will help you regardless. The problem lies within us. With frequent ups and downs, we become tired, anxious, depressed, and feel hopeless, leading us to give up. Moreover, giving Satan an opportunity to exploit your previous setbacks, he will constantly remind you of your continuous relapses, further weakening your willpower.
There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel
Everyone knows about the famous battle of Jericho and how its mighty walls came tumbling down, allowing the Israelites to conquer the city. However, the next city they encountered was a small and seemingly weak city called Ai. They thought it would be an easy victory, but to their dismay, they suffered a miserable defeat. Joshua, filled with despair, cried out to the Lord, the Lord answered him:
There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you. (Joshua 7:13).
They were confident of winning. The city was small compared to Jericho. However, they lost the battle. They later discovered that just one person had stolen idols from Jericho and hidden them in their tent. Only when this person was punished and the idols were revealed did God grant them victory. We are making the same mistake.
Sometimes, we are tempted to keep images, videos, or bookmarks on our computers that cater to our previous interests. We tell ourselves that it won’t cause harm. It’s just one video or one image. We justify it by saying we’ll only watch for a one minute. I mention this because I have done this several times. However, the inevitable always happens – I relapse.
Part of it is God knowing that I keep these files as a sign that I don’t fully desire Him and am torn between Him and my lust. Now, whenever I am tempted to store anything on my computer related to pornography, I remind myself of God’s words:
“There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies.”
My dear fighter, I simply want to uplift your hope. This challenging situation will not define your entire life. It resembles the narrow door that Jesus spoke of, leading to freedom. You may currently perceive its narrowness as you battle your temptations, but I cannot stress enough the greatness that awaits behind that door. If you patiently resist a little further.
Crossing that door won’t take long. Just be patient, courageous, and faithful. Soon, things will get easier. You’ll join the heavenly chorus, grateful for the One who patiently waited and helped you. Your heart will transform and your thoughts will purify, bringing you joy. When you encounter temptations, you won’t falter, but confidently say.
O my soul, march on in strength! (Judges 5:21).
He knows Satin always fights. He doesn’t promise to remove every temptation. But this is his promise:
They will fight against you,
But they shall not prevail against you.
For I am with you,” says the Lord, “to deliver you.”
( Jeremiah 1:19).
be persistent.
keep praying for 5 minutes (step1)
May add 5 more minutes (step 2)
win this battle
