Beech Tree News Network

Magicians’ sleight of hand fools most people when it is done correctly. When watching them, we are wise when we heed the warning, “Don’t believe your eyes.” Many a short man has been made taller on television and in the movies by filming him next to his “leading lady” while he stands on a box! Many a computer has generated scenes and events for movies that could never have happened otherwise. Again, don’t believe your eyes! Since our senses, especially our sight, can be misled, does it not then make sense that through our senses, specifically our sight, Satan will tempt us to do evil? This is what he does!

    In the beginning, Satan tempted Eve by encouraging her to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This was a violation of God’s command (Gen. 2:17, 3:4-5). When, among other things, Eve “saw” the fruit was “pleasant to the eyes” she ate of that fruit (Gen. 3:6). This was not the only way Satan tempted her, but the lust of the eyes, the appeal to what her eyes saw, was a key element in her temptation, which led to her sin, and ultimately to her spiritual death (Gen. 2:15-17; Jas. 1:14-15).

    In like manner, we must be careful with what we look at from day to day. For example, Job said, “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?” (Job 31:1). He was wise and saw the dangers associated with using his eyes and mind to lust after a woman. Christ also said that our sense of sight could lead us into sin. He said, “Everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matt. 5:28). Let us pay close attention to these words! Both God and Satan know that the lust of the eyes can lead us into sin. Therefore, we must be on our guard to make sure we do not sin by lusting after others, whether it is a person at work, at school, on television, on the computer, in a magazine, etc.!

    Another sin we can commit with our eyes is when we have a “proud look” (Prov. 6:17-19). God hates the proud look; it is an abomination to Him. In contrast, God’s commends humility in all people (I Pet. 5:5-6).

    The apostle Peter wrote to the Christians, warning them about false teachers. He described false teachers in the following way: “They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing” (II Pet. 2:14-15). Notice that these people had “eyes full of adultery”! How did they get that way? Does this description sound like these people are the kind of people who are going to encourage us in things which lead to Heaven by their examples? When people around us have eyes that are “full of adultery”, don’t believe your eyes (or theirs)!

    At times, our little children sing the song, “O, Be Careful Little Eyes What You See.” After reading of God’s warnings concerning our eyes, isn’t it time for the adults to sing (and live) this song as well?
-- You are invited to visit with the Caneyville church of Christ. Times of services: Sun.: 10:00 am, 10:45 am, 5:00 pm; Wed.: 7:00 pm. Website: http://caneyvillechurchofchrist.com Tune in to our radio program on 1570 AM at 8:30 am, Mon-Fri. Questions? Call: (270) 589-4167