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Jarrod Jacobs: Don’t Believe Your Eyes!

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.” In entertainment, 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! CGI, or computer-generated imaging, has created scenes and events that could never have happened otherwise. Not only our sight, but all of our senses can be fooled in many ways. I remember when Isaac was fooled when his sense of “touch” told him one thing, while his sense of “hearing” told him something else (Gen. 27:22). His sense of touch made him think he was talking to Esau, but his hearing told him the voice was Jacob’s! Sadly, he followed what he felt rather than what he had heard, and was fooled. Since our senses, especially our sense of sight, can be misled, does it not 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 what the apostle John described as “the lust of the eyes” (I Jn. 2:16). Satan encouraged Eve to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in contradiction to God’s command (Gen. 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 means Satan used to tempt her, but the lust of the eyes, the appeal to what her eyes saw, was a key element in her temptation, her sin, and ultimately her spiritual death (Gen. 2:15-17; Jas. 1:14-15).

    In like manner, we must be careful with our sense of sight and what we look at from day to day. We can commit sin if we are not careful in our observation. We need to appreciate the warnings God has given to us in reference to our sense of sight.

    For example, long ago, Job said, “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?” (Job 31:1). Job 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!

    Another sin we can commit with our eyes is to have a “proud look” (Prov. 6:17-19). God hates the proud look; it is an abomination to Him. This is made clear as we read in the Bible of God’s hatred for pride and the proud look as well as God’s commendation for humility (I Pet. 5:5-6; Jas. 4:10).

    At times, our little children will sing the song, “O, Be Careful Little Eyes What You See” in their Bible classes. After reading of God’s warnings concerning our eyes, perhaps it would be good for the adults to learn 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 101.5 FM at 5:30 am, Mon-Fri. Questions? Call: (270) 589-4167

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