If a character examination test was given to a room of study participants and they were to rank the 7 deadly sins they commit in order of most guilty to the least, envy would perhaps take the second to last in the list. (Of course, you can guess which would take the ‘lust’ place)
A Warm Welcome To Earth
Where God Himself had to come down to warn us, yet again, about the perils of lust, noting its insidious journey from lustful eyes [1].
We now know that those eyes eventually wander ‘innocently’ to the secrecy of masturbation and blossoming into occasional casual sex with that person you’ve been infatuated with.
However, in our modern society’s love affair with ‘sexual liberation,’ the routine gets stale real quick.
Movies, comedy shows, and social media glorify infidelity, making regular, monogamous sexual practices boring, and exceedingly unsatisfying.
This birthed the sparking curiosity in the rainbow agenda, rich cougars, and sugar daddies. Social media thirst traps are enough to make a recovering sex addict go back to his own vomit.
Only Fans is Forbes quickest way to buy a sports car, and why settle for two when your best friend can join the sex party?
20th-century prostitutes can get inspo from some of today’s modern women’s fashion trends.
Body counts rival the number of times a person has ever worked out.
Kidnappings end up into horrifying murderous gang rape, and if arrested, they are welcomed into dens of unnatural lusts called prisons!
High schoolers dream of step-moms; content creators thrive on sexual uploads, “Serving my boyfriend breakfast with Nothing On! Must watch!!”
Children are no longer singing Baa Baa Black Sheep. Most marriages are sexless or/and promiscuous.
Pastors never cease to surprise us with their escapades, and as far as I know, massage posters don’t advertise massage.
Everyone’s fluent in the love language of skin-to-skin physical touch; the only best thing for a girl with a male best friend is best between them.
And we’re all aware of what it takes for Instagram models to end up in Dubai, flaunting thongs on a yacht!
Marriage: God’s First Institution For Man
Today, we confront another perplexing sin—lust (the intense, unrestrained sexual craving), that has found its cozy spot in the beating heart of our culture.
Consider that in the beginning, God, in His wisdom, decided to kick things off with marriage as a holy institution [2], complete with a foundation rooted in the sexual intimacy [3].
Could the Devil peacefully sit and watch God’s plan for mankind?
He was working overtime to have a grand plan of turning the principle of holy matrimony into chaos.
The scheme was deceptively simple—picked up the gig of a mixologist and concocted a confusing cocktail around the sanctity of sex.
The result? Chaos in romantic connections [4], threatening the very essence of families as a divine social unit [5] designed to draw humanity closer to God.
So, are we ready to declare that this juicy tale of tangled bedsheets is the root cause of most of the world’s troubles today?
Lust Pop Quiz
Everyone’s dipped in the pool of lust [6] at some point.
So, to jog your memory and remind you that we’re all in the same fishbowl of temptation, here’s a little test, true-or-false, to show you just how much you need a lifeguard for your soul.
Satan’s Million-Dollar Strategy
Satan has got us thinking we’re all subscribing to a set of beliefs that are out of sync with what’s good for us.
“How can God create man with a sex drive yet restrict him? Isn’t that ridiculous?”
As a solution, he came up with these two golden rules to rule the bedroom game:
✅ Sex is no longer an intrinsic good but a mere instrument.
✅ If it’s consensual, it’s a no-harm, no-foul situation.
So, the big plan was to toss God’s beautiful blueprint of sex out the window and instead reduce it to orgasms, a fun time, baby-making, job security, promotions, just business, [7] fame, exquisite lifestyle, [8] rent, fish, [9] grades, etc.
Over time, the new-age view on sex has become:
The Deeper Issue With Lust
Perhaps this hypersexualized culture reveals a much deeper issue.
Exploring Jesus’ parable of the empty house [10] or biblical miracles where empty vessels are filled with oil [11] reveals a universal truth.
Like vessels, we all crave fulfillment — whether by demons or God’s Spirit, air of emptiness, or oil of use, [12] depending on the Biblical story.
Turns out, our ancestors knew a thing or two. [13]
They said that man can’t survive without joy, so if you strip away the spiritual joys, he’ll dive headfirst into the pool of carnal pleasures.
Now, in this increasingly godless society, is it evident that many would rather choose to fill their hearts with very accessible sexual pleasures?
How The Entertainment Industry Is Keeping You Hooked
Entertainment used to be tame—just a few sensual songs and soap operas that teased with a kiss before cutting to commercials.
Then came the internet, turning access to explicit content into a free-for-all.
Once-pricey magazines moved online, and X-rated content became effortless to find.
As society embraced this digital wave, sensuality seeped deeper into music, movies, adverts, and even cartoons.
Boundaries faded, and what was once taboo is now marketed as “harmless fun.”
The shift is clear, and many have surrendered their subconscious to these influences.
Is The Problem That Sex Is Everywhere?
Interestingly, that’s not the heart of the matter.
On a side note, the Bible discusses sex roughly 105 times, [14] and it explicitly communicates to believers that God designed sex to be a top-notch, A-grade, intrinsic good.
It’s a heavenly tutorial on understanding the ABCs of self-sacrificing love, the beauty of giving one’s all, and the joy derived from shared emotions – that is, requited love.
The aim is to help humanity reflect the love of Christ, within the sacred union of marriage, passing this understanding through generations for eternity.
And So The Real Deal Here Is
The secular sex doctrines are not only causing a stir in Christian circles but also among those non-Christians who’ve tried to maintain their ethical standards. [15]
If you’ve been a long-time resident in this world, you must’ve noticed society’s wild obsession with unnatural lust. [16]
I mean, back in history, sure, ancient heathen kingdoms had a thing for it, but never in the recorded history of humanity has it been paraded so openly, even targeting the tender ears and eyes of naïve children. [17]
Scripture openly condemns such tendencies [18] (unless some ministers opt for a sugar-coated version), which tends to agitate those hopeful that this new-age philosophy will always direct everyone’s attention.
Scriptural guidance on matters of sex, relationships, [19] femininity, masculinity, [20] and the like is now labeled as traditional moral approaches, prompting society to urge such individuals to keep their opinions to themselves.
They are deemed burdensome to others unless, of course, you’ve conveniently tagged your content as comedy [21] to catch a break.
Regarding Sexuality, the Undeniable Truth Lies in God’s Word
Though we live in a world where sinning is easier than choosing righteousness, [22] the Bible’s moral truth has never been a burden but a gift ensuring human wholeness and well-being.
Instead of following God’s principles, some educators, churches, and the media have distorted God’s design, making it feel more like a dull obligation than a beautiful experience.
Now, picture the life of a kid growing up without a dad in the house, most likely due to a divorce, or the prevalent issue where the term ‘single mom’ is commonplace.
Add to that the agony of patients dealing with STIs—all the repercussions of some rather lustful behavior.
The Bible could wave a big banner saying, “Hey, maybe my standard of purity was onto something, huh?”
Why Lust Fails To Identify As A Deadly Sin
The uniqueness of Lust among the deadly sins is that it spreads quickly!
Remember your first exposure to sensual content?
What was once shocking became intriguing over time.
The initial guilt and shame, guided by your moral compass, were replaced as you repeatedly engaged with such content.
This process, known as Systemic Desensitization, gradually made what was once unacceptable seem normal.
Repeated exposure diminished the sense of secrecy, leading you to accept it, influenced by peers, media, or even family.
As it became routine, the struggle to see it as wrong grew.
This internal conflict creates emotional reasoning, making many wonder, “How can lust be wrong when it feels so right?”
Here’s How You Can Deal With Lust
We have attempted to explore the depths of lust, Satan’s sweet deception, and society’s shift toward sexual freedom.
Despite all the information, Lust remains a sin that’s hard to ignore—it’s right in our faces.
With many resources and programs available, you might already have strategies for dealing with lust.
This discussion aims to encourage you to overcome it in your journey.
Here are a few practical tips to help you move forward:
1. To Heal The Mind, Heal The Body
Lust can shake up your thoughts, memory, and behavior, often leading to emotional reasoning instead of logical thinking.
Although lust promises pleasure, it’s usually short-lived and leaves you feeling unfulfilled.
This battle is a direct biochemical assault on the brain.
Although it may seem challenging, these physical strategies may help you to restore mental health.
Allow me to throw some direct tips your way to bulk up your recovery toolkit:
✅ Nutrition – Swap junk food for healthy options and drink plenty of water.
✅ Sunshine – Watch the sunrise and the sunset.
✅ Better Sleep – Use an analog alarm clock instead of keeping your phone by your bed.
✅ Exercise – Get into a gym routine, or start running.
✅ Mental Stimulation – Grab a brain-teasing book; The Lost Art of Thinking.
✅ Social Life – Socialize with trustworthy friends.
2. Assess Your Life Experience
I might not have highlighted the subtle ways lust has crept into your life. It could be:
✅ Heartbreak & Rejection – Turning down your boyfriend’s advances left you heartbroken, believing men are only after one thing, leading you to seek numbness.
✅ Validation – A girlfriend’s criticism of your bed performance led you to seek validation through multiple partners.
✅ Infidelity & Retaliation – Multiple episodes of infidelity pushed you to stop the tears and start a payback tour.
✅ Trauma & Self-Worth – Surviving sexual assault left you feeling like an object, repeatedly succumbing to the clutches of lust.
✅ Depression & Self-Destruction – Struggling with depression, engaging in casual encounters as a form of self-destruction.
✅ Betrayal & Vengeance – Someone hid their HIV status from you, and now you seek revenge by spreading infection.
3. Identify What Keeps Lust in Control
Yet still, countering the grip of lust can feel challenging in today for several more reasons:
1️⃣ Shame around sex has vanished, and everyone seems to be parading it.
- When the world normalizes it, personal guilt starts to fade.
2️⃣ Society’s seemingly arch-nemesis—unwanted pregnancies—has a remedy.
- Safe sex beliefs give a false sense of freedom.
3️⃣ Easy access to sexual experiences.
- From social media to escorts, temptation is everywhere.
4. Meet Your Savior Jesus
Despite these challenges, and many more, Jesus has a special promise for His faithful.
He whispers, “Lay down, My weary one; lay down your head upon My breast.”
He says to you today:
- My love for You is greater than your lustful addictions.
- I left Heaven and lived a righteous life to show you that overcoming is possible.
- I died for your sins, including lust, and rose again to offer you new life.
- I will always stand by your side, in your weakness, and in My strength.
- Share your heart’s longings with me, and I will present them to the Father.
- I will erase your shame, heal your hurts, and replace lust with a deep love for the life I’ve given you.
More Resources & Assistance
If lust has deeply affected you, a friend, or a family member, and you’re looking for detailed guidance, check out Scott Ritsema’s 6-episode series on YouTube.
While knowledge alone doesn’t lead to salvation, it can help you understand God’s love and inspire a hopeful response to your calling.
INSPIRATION
1. What Your Counselor Never Told You by Dr. William Backus
2. Addicted To Purity by Scott Ritsema
3. Character, Strengths, and Virtues by Christopher Peterson & Martin E. P. Seligman
4. King James Bible
