The War On Our Eyes
You shall not commit adultery. - Exodus 20:14
If we consider Jesus' definition of adultery—that even looking at another person with lust is committing adultery in the heart—we begin to grasp just how far-reaching this commandment truly is. In a world where lust assaults us from every angle, every hour of the day, it is terrifyingly easy to become a casualty of this battle. One lingering stare, one click, one indulgent show that stretches the boundaries of decency—and the line has been crossed. This is why the Westminster Larger Catechism's call to "be watchful over our eyes" is not a mere suggestion; it is a wartime mandate, more urgent now than ever before.
To be watchful is to stand as a sentinel on the wall, eyes fixed on the horizon, alert to the first hint of danger. The Catechism's language evokes a wartime vigilance, the kind demanded of guards whose failure could mean the enemy slipping past the defenses. Watchfulness assumes an active threat and acknowledges that the fortress will fall without constant and diligent observation. But what happens when the guard—the
very eyes that are meant to keep watch—becomes compromised? What if the threat doesn't just lie outside the walls but aims to corrupt the watchman himself?
The Catechism recognizes this vulnerability. Our eyes, meant to scan for dangers, can be seduced by what they were meant to defend against. To remain steadfast, we must cultivate an unyielding commitment to guard not only the outer gates but the very core of our being. This requires dedication to deny the lures that seek entry and the mental fortitude to avert our gaze from what pollutes. It is a commitment to hold the line and preserve the heart, day after day, hour after hour, moment by moment.
Psalm 101:3 speaks like the battle oath of a seasoned warrior: "I will set no worthless thing before my eyes." This declaration reminds us that our gaze is more than a physical act; it is a spiritual act of war. The eyes are the gateway to the soul, and what we allow in can shape, corrode, or fortify the heart. The enemy knows this well. Let lust slip past the gates, and it won't be long before it wreaks havoc within, undermining defenses and leading to ruin.
The enemy's tactics are not always overt. Lust does not always come charging with banners flying; it often infiltrates quietly, hidden within the mundane. It's the glance that lingers too long, the subtle flirtation at work, the movie or show justified because it's "mostly okay," or the scroll through social media that feeds envy and longing. These moments may seem small, but each is a breach in the wall, a compromise that invites the enemy inside.
For men, the battlefield is often visual and immediate, demanding an active retreat from temptation, as Joseph demonstrated when he fled from Potiphar's wife (Genesis 39:12). For women, the fight may appear differently—a longing for an ideal life an imagined romance, or comparisons that lead to dissatisfaction. Yet, whether the battle is fought in open skirmishes or subtle whispers, the call is the same: stand guard, stay vigilant, fight back.
The call to guard our eyes is not just a warning against overt immorality but a reminder to protect against anything that diverts our hearts from pure devotion to God. Each unguarded thought, each glance that lingers is a potential breach in our spiritual defense, a deviation from holiness that leads to brokenness, strain in relationships, and distance from God. Proverbs 6:27 asks pointedly, "Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned?" The answer is clear: flirtation with sin, even in its mildest form, is playing with fire—and the consequences are unavoidable.
So, we must train ourselves as spiritual warriors, eyes fixed not just on what we avoid but on what we pursue—holiness, contentment, and closeness to God. Watchfulness is not just defense; it is an active strategy for victory. In this battle, every moment matters, every choice counts, and by God's grace, victory is possible and promised.
The Call to Repentance and Hope in Christ
Brothers and sisters, as we stand on the spiritual battlefield, facing the pervasive nature of lust, let us come before the Lord in humble repentance. The call to purity is not simply about behavior modification; it is a summons to a heart transformed by the love and holiness of Christ. Jesus' words in Matthew 5 reveal that lust is not just an outward act but an insidious corruption that seeps into the very depths of the heart. It is a departure from true devotion to God and from the intimacy He designed us to cherish with Him.
But take heart: repentance begins with the acknowledgment of our need for grace. This is a grace that not only forgives but also restores and empowers, enabling us to walk in newness of life. As we confess our failings, let us cling to Christ, who kept this commandment perfectly on our behalf. He did not merely turn away from temptation; He conquered it. In His perfect purity, He bore the weight of our sin and shame on the cross and, in exchange, offered us His righteousness.
So let us resolve, by the Spirit's strength, to fix our eyes on what is pure, to dwell on what is noble, and to delight in what is holy. We do not fight this war alone. The One who calls us to holiness is the same One who equips us with His grace. Our battle is not won by sheer willpower but by surrendering to the God who is faithful in cleansing, renewing, and redirecting our gaze toward Him.
May this be our earnest prayer—that we would cast aside anything that causes us to stumble, prioritizing our devotion to God over fleeting desires. In doing so, may we stand as lights, unyielding and bright, in a world darkened by lust, finding our strength and victory in Christ alone.
