“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: (14) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (15) Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:13-15).
Doesn’t sin begin in our minds? Our “own lusts” or desires originate in our minds or thoughts. From the suggestion of an impure thought or idea (if entertained) comes the dwelling upon, the consuming of us, the transforming of our feelings, emotions, body chemicals, and finally the act of sin, which if repeatedly continued will lead to destruction, and if even once indulged can cause great misery depending on the situation. Repeated patterns or habits just tend to entrench themselves further essentially becoming our character.
Too often we could find ourselves in a pattern or habit of sin. Have you ever found yourself there? Dwelling upon the wrong thoughts, at first a suggestion, then a little flow, then a river in the wrong direction – sinned. Pick yourself up again, apologize to God, get strength to overcome, successful for a little while, then some erroneous thoughts come along again, and you trip and fall flat on your face. This is the human battle field of sin no matter what the ill may be.
Christ pointed out that the sin begins in our thoughts, not our actions. The actions count for what they are and often bring more destruction to ourselves and/or others than the thoughts, but the action of sin never would have occurred if the thoughts were not entertained. Christ teaches us to “nip it in the bud,” that is, kill the flower before it blooms, or fight the battle against wrong thoughts before they explode like time bombs and hurt people (ourselves and others). Christ said if a man lusts after a woman then he is committing adultery in his heart (See Matthew 5:28,29).
Think about King David’s terrible sin of adultery in ancient times. It began with some thoughts, alone, up on a roof top as he happened to spy a bathing beauty of a woman who did not belong to him. Instead of nipping the evil/lustful thoughts right there he decided to indulge them a bit until they indulged him, brought the woman to his house, led to adultery, murder, lying, the death of a child, and the death of many good soldiers by a foolish cover-up move, and countless families weeping for their daddy’s and for husbands who were not coming home from the war anymore. Bad thoughts indulged led to sin, sin upon sin, countless misery, shame and disgrace.
So, how to overcome those thoughts which lead to sin, and often to habit, which leads to poor characters, which leads to more difficulties, disgrace, shame, and even eternal destruction? Let’s take a look at the Bible’s principles!
Encouragement: “Be TRANSFORMED by the RENEWING OF YOUR MIND” (Rom. 12:1,2).
- Keep Active, occupied, or busy in right things: “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her...” (Ezekiel 16:49). Sodom was a very wicked place and part of the problem was that people had way too much idle time on their hands and they occupied it with lusts and evils. King David’s first mistake in the Bathsheeba ordeal was having too much free time on his hands, since he didn’t “go out to war” as kings usually did at that time (See 2 Samuel 11:1,2). The devil makes use of idle hands and minds.
- Fill your mind with the word and meditate only on good things: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8). “BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man [or woman] cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. (10) With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. (11) Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:9-11). “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4). The word of God will retrain our minds in the right ways.
- Pray – for His power, for others, for everything: “(9) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. (10) Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (11) Give us this day our daily bread. (12) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. (13) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” (Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus). Brother Paul said, “Pray without ceasing!” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
- Avoid impure suggestions to your mind. Protect your senses: “He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;” (Isaiah 33:15).
- Avoid bad influences – Choose your friends carefully: “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Cor. 15:33).
- Choose to wage an all out war through Christ, by keeping your thoughts centered on Him: “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). See also John 15:4,5 – without Him we can do nothing. We must abide in Him. We must “look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:1,2). “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon you; because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3).
- Look for the way of escape as soon as dangerous thoughts peak their head – there is one: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
- Be diligent to continue in well-doing: “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).
- Don’t be self-sufficient, proud or unconcerned – Know your weakness and needs: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).
- Don’t be discouraged if you slipped up – Instead, pray, and persistently seek to overcome through Christ: Victory and change is coming through Christ. Span longer in your stints of victory until victory lasts forever. In Christ know it is attainable! “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7).
If we follow these Bible principles then victory is attainable! Seek the Lord and be strong in the might of His power! May the Lord bless and guide you to live in His will always! Let’s say this one more time, succinctly, in a different order: (1) Word – Fill with it (2) Prayer (3) Busy – Keep it that Way (4) Run – Stop that thought (5) Fill with good (6) Cut out the bad (7) Don’t Quit – there’s a way out (8) Jesus’ Power (9) Friends – Good Ones! (10) Don’t Underestimate Weaknesses – Fortify Against.
