It's Time For Us To Take Action!

Shameful behavior is indeed being displayed in magazines, movies, and on television. Immorality is even joked about on sitcoms. The world is seeking to convince everyone that nothing is sinful anymore. So we must be on guard against any compromise in our hearts.

While serving in the military, I realized that I was becoming unmoved by the obscene words and conduct of some of my fellow soldiers. When I recognized what was happening, I prayed for the Lord to restore my sensitivity and awareness to the grievous nature of sin (cf. Romans 7:13).

A permissive attitude toward evil will lead each of us to fall into sin. That’s why we are to deal radically with every form of wickedness (1 Thessalonians 5:22). Jesus went so far as to say that we should pluck out our eye if it causes us to sin (Matthew 5:29). He didn’t mean we should maim our bodies, but rather we are to take strong action when tempted to sin (1 Corinthians 10:13; James 4:7-8; i.e. Genesis 39:7-12).

Books, magazines, or video images that arouse wrong desires must be deliberately avoided. This is also what Paul had in mind when he said we are to “put to death the deeds of the body” (Romans 8:13). Someone who is indifferent to the sin around him or trifles with it in his own life, is in grave danger.

We cannot ignore the seriousness of this issue. It’s time for us to take action against sin by “bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 KJV).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets