Lust is the opposite of love. Although love and hate are often considered opposites, as much as hate is an opposite to love, so is lust the opposite of love. Jesus was and is pure love, and lust is contradictary to love and will lead to sin, which in turn leads to death. Hence lust is considered to be one of the seven deadly sins.
Love is when you will do anything at your own expense, to satisfy the needs of others, whilst lust is when you will do anything at the expense of others, to satisfy your own needs.
1John 2:16 ” For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh – the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world.” This scripture reveals that lust does not only relate to our flesh and therefore things that satisfy the flesh, but that lust applies to things that we see and desire. We see someone driving a Ferrari, and we begin to lust after that car, we will do all in our power to be the one driving that car, even if it means that our wives and kids are deprived of essentials in order that we can get to be driving that car – LUST! In fact, anything that we desire that can be associated with the pride of life, is most likely fuelled by lust. It can be a new suit that will make you look important, or that new house in an upmarket suburb. Anything that is done to impress is part of the pride of life.
Mostly lust is used in sexual contexts, which is correct. Your bodies get filled with a desire and then once filled with desire, you will do anything to satisfy that desire that has built up within you, even if it is at the expense of others. Lust is fuelled by satan himself and his purpose is to so fill you with desire that you are unable to control it, and then once you give in to the lust, you are out of the will of the Father and into the sins of the world. Pornography is not there by chance. It is designed to fill you with lust, and to make the lusts of the flesh and the associated sins that accompany it, to appear as being normal qualities of life. Pornography fuels your mind with desire.
James 1:15 “Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”
The only way to defeat lust, is to be bonded in love. When you are filled with love and more specifically, the love of Jesus, there is no place for lust within you. Love drives you to see first to the needs of others, and whilst you are occupied in love and seeing to the needs of others, you are too busy to ponder on your own selfish needs. It is only when you concentrate on your own selfish needs that lust and sin are born into your members and the decay of your flesh begins.
2 Corinthians 5:8 “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” When we become one with Christ Jesus, we cease to live according to the earthly body that restricts us, and start to live in Christ. When we are absent from our bodies through Christ, we are no longer controlled by the bodily feelings and lusts. Overcome the lusts of the flesh and the lusts of the eyes by beeing solidly founded in Christ Jesus with only Him as your Lord and Saviour. Keep your eyes on Him and you will not be able to see the bait of satan that is there to appeal to your senses and lusts.
