Throughout human history, there has been a constant war between truth and deceit, and as human beings created in the image of God, we find ourselves right smack in the middle of this ongoing battle. Whether we look to the beginning of time and the infamous words of the serpent, “Did God really say…?”, to the various Scriptures highlighting how God detests deceit in us (Psalm 36:3, Psalm 101:7, Proverbs 6:16-19), the struggle between the truth and deception isn’t going away anytime soon. This tug-of-war is far more intense than you can imagine, and God’s call on your life as a man of God is right in the crosshairs. Every day, there is a steady bombardment of messages littered with lies, half-truths, and overall deceit aimed at you, and these tools of distraction come straight from the heart of the father of lies (John 8:44). Now you may ask, how do deception and distraction tie together? Quite simply, when you are distracted it is far easier for the thief to deceive you so that he can steal, kill, and destroy you (John 10:10). And while we drink our coffees and go about our day overwhelmed by our to-do lists, there is a well-thought-out attack being prepared against you (1 Peter 5:8).
As men of God, that attack is likely to come through the sometimes strong, and sometimes subtle, temptation to engage in numerous forms of sexual immorality. It is one of the oldest tricks in the Devil’s arsenal, and it has been effective against some of the most well-known men in the Bible. Samson was deceived by the lies of blinding temptation and fleeting pleasure and ended up grinding grain in prison for some time. David, too, was blinded by temptation and fleeting lust and ended up paying a high personal cost. Both men lost focus of God’s call on their life and paid a dear price for it. And while there were physical consequences for both Samson and David, there were also spiritual losses. Have you ever wondered what more Samson could have accomplished for the Lord if only he had firm boundaries that kept him away from Delilah and her sultry talk? And what about David? What else might he have accomplished for the Kingdom if only he returned to his bedroom alone and content with what he already had? As a man of God with a call of God on your life (1 Timothy 6:11-12), your best defense is the truth as found in God’s Word. No other option is as effective or best suited for you, and no other option will guard and protect you as well as it does.
What does the truth look like in our life when we are facing an intense desire for pornography or debating the opportunity to engage in “no-strings” attached immorality? It comes down to one word: trust. Do you trust what God says about what you’re feeling? Do you trust what God says about the dangers and consequences of sexual sin? Do you even trust God to deliver you as He has promised? While you may believe in the words you read, do you trust in the promises that those words spell out? When we look at God’s Word, we see simple and clear guidelines for how to stay focused on our call as men of God. You may say, “It looks like a checklist; it can’t be that easy.” No, it’s not a checklist, but it is a blueprint for victory in the battle between the truth and deceit. Have you become content waving the white flag of surrender, or are you trusting in God above who declares the following?
Deceit says, “I can’t walk in victory” but Truth declares Psalm 119:9
Deceit says, “I can’t help but lust at every woman” but Truth declares Job 31:1
Deceit says, “There is too much temptation to deal with” but Truth declares 1 Corinthians 10:13
Deceit says, “I want to give up” but Truth declares Ephesians 6:10-11
Deceit says, “I just can’t seem to walk away” but Truth declares Colossians 3:5
Deceit says, “Prayer never seems to work” but Truth declares Matthews 26:41
Deceit says, “I will never change” but Truth declares 2 Corinthians 5:17
Have you allowed yourself to become comfortable repeating the words of the father of lies who only seeks to distract and deceive you, or are you declaring the truth of your Father in heaven who has bestowed upon you a call that is worthy of His son? As men of God, let us stand firm against the twin sinful distractions of pornography and sexual immorality and instead, trust in the words of the Holy One who has given each of us the following mandate to fulfill:
“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:11-12)
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