Sinful desires: A Precursor to Death

By Thomas Denegre

Did you commit murder? Rob a bank? Have adulterous affairs?  Chances are you’re a good Christian and you didn’t do any of these things.   But Jesus said that was not good enough.

In this week’s reading from Matthew 5:21-35 Jesus teaches there is a higher standard to our behavior, for he states to the crowd;

“Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty of murder before the court.”

“Everyone who has not forgiven his brother their sacrifice or prayer will not be heard.”

“Everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Clearly, it’s not enough that our outward behavior be righteous, but so too must be the thoughts in our heart.  Jesus goes on to say, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” Matt 15:18

Just as it takes three elements to make a campfire; oxygen, fire, and wood.  So, too does sin need three elements; the world we live in, sinful thoughts and desires (motive), and opportunity.

Some people may say, that if sinful thoughts are just as bad as the sin, then why shouldn’t you just do the sin.  Simply, a life in sin kills the heart and separates us from God.  Sin is on the same level as nerve gas and atomic weapons; deadly and catastrophic. 

Acting out sinful desires causes harm and death to us in many ways.

·         One, it causes people to excuse sin rather than stopping sin.  It deadens the heart and we become desensitized to actions leading to death. Good becomes evil and evil becomes good. Sadly, we see this when churches fly rainbow flags to endorse rebellion.

·         Two, sin will kill, steal, and destroy. 

·         Three, intentional sin is rebellion against God, especially when a person celebrates the sin rather than repents from it.

·         Four, sin will always hurt and kill people.  Free love has aborted 60 million people and that’s just the tipping point.

For myself, to stop the opportunity of sin, I must remove the motive of sin in my heart.  Jesus came to target the evil in my heart and transform it into his image. He knows my heart is defiled, but when I became born again, I was given a new spirit and heart.  God said in Ezekiel; “And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 11:19

By living in life union with Jesus and having his words living powerfully within me (John 15:7), I can become aware of my thoughts and motives.  While I cannot stop a thought from occurring, I can stop nurturing it. I also know when I do sin, I quickly repent of it to my Father, because God desires to forgive and heal me. By having a spirit-to-spirit relationship with God, I have a guardian at the gate to my heart that lets in good motives while keeping evil ones out.  I trust God when he said, 'I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.” Jeremiah 24:7