OCULAR SIN

The Ocular Sin (Sin Committed Through Sight)

I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? Job 31:1. These were the words of a man described earlier in Job1:1 as perfect,upright,one who feared God and eschewed evil. Satan found nothing evil to accuse him of. Satan rather made God to test Job's faith in Him.

Christians have been called to live a blameless life. A blameless life can be lived if one walks in the knowledge of God's word. There is one area of life that many believes ignore. This is the sin committed through sight which I have termed “ Ocular Sin.”

Ocular sin is a sin committed through sight. This kind of sin is diverse but I will like to touch on one area which many believers fall victim to. I am using believers because it has clearly been written in the word of God. This is the sin committed by lusting after the opposite sex through sight. This comes about as a result of uncontrolled staring. I will use four people in the bible who were victims to this kind of sin.

Potiphar's wife (Genesis 39:1-13): Joseph was sold into slavery. He found himself in the house of Potiphar.The bible says The Lord was with him and he found favour in the eyes of his master Potiphor. Potiphar's wife saw the beauty of the young man Joseph and couldn't control her inordinate affection. It was upon seeing Joseph's beauty that made Potiphar's wife to lust after Joseph. I personally believe that Potiphar's wife was very beautiful . Joseph saw her daily yet Joseph did not allow his passions to drive him but he walked in the fear of The Lord. Potiphar's wife continued to lure him until Joseph fled. If Potiphar's wife had not allowed her evil passions to drive her, I believe she could have avoided that temptation.


Amnon(2 samuel 13) : Amnon was one of the sons of David. Amnon was so distressed over his sister Tamar that he lost his head. I believe Amnon's abominable act started with a lustful look. Upon looking at his sister in a lustful manner, he started developing unholy affection towards his sister. Amnon ended up raping his sister. In James 1:15 the bible makes us to know that the product of lust is sin. If Amnon had controlled his desires it wouldn't had led to him defiling his sister which later resulted in his death. If Amnon had sought better counsel from someone who feared God, he wouldn't have ended up committing an abomination. The friends you keep can determine the direction of your eyes.


Hophni and Phinehas(1Samuel 2): They were the sons of Eli the high priest at that time. The bible says they didn't know God. They were referred to as the sons of Belial(corruption). These two men did not only take the best part of the offerings offered to God but they also slept with the woman who came to the temple. 2 peter 2:14 better explains the deeds of Hophni and Phinehas. Their eyes were full of adultery which caused them to sin unceasingly.Out of their uncontrolled affections these two men ended up dying. For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23


David(2 Samuel 11): David, the most famous Jewish king and a man after God's heart became a victim of this sin. David rose up from his bed and walked upon the roof of his house. While strolling, David saw a woman(Bathsheba) taking her bath. At that moment David had not sinned because it wasn't deliberate. He went on to stare further and behold the woman was very beautiful to look at. David then lusted after her and sent for her. I believe if David had controlled his thoughts he wouldn't have fallen into sin. David later confessed his sins and God forgave him but he bore the repercussions. Oh poor David! A very famous king but was a victim of ocular sin.


The eye is the the light of the body. If your eye is single(sees the truth which is the word of God) your whole body will be full of light but if your eye is evil your whole body will be full of darkness. Matthew6:22-23



WHAT WAS JESUS' RESPONSE TO OCULAR SIN?

Matthew 5:28-29 : Jesus was teaching the multitude and made mention of a very great offence which the Jewish scribes had ignored for ages. He talked about lusting after a woman in the heart. I believe Jesus used the man as the transgressor because much was not said about women during that time. Anyway the law applies to both genders. When God gave Moses the ten commandments, the last commandment was about coveteousness. The word "covet" in Hebrew is "chamad". It has so many meanings but I will like to use the word lust which is the subject of discussion here. The last sentence in that commandment Exodus 20:17 is "do not covet anything that is your neighbour's. This explains why this scripture refers to both genders.Back to Jesus' statement. After opening the multitude’s eyes on ocular sin, he further talked about its eternal consequence if not controlled in the verse 29 of the chapter.


Based on the earlier assertions that I have made, believers and again I use the word believers because we have knowledge of the word and will of God and as a matter of fact we have to deal with this area of our life. We are living in an age where anything goes.

Morality is on the decline. The fear of God has left our society and the masses are walking after the imagination of their heart but there is one thing we should bear in mind. The kingdom of God is not for filthy people. It is made for holy people. The same God who slayed Hophni and Phinehas for continually committing ocular sin is the same today.

Today, pornography is the order of the day. Many young people are lured into it out of ignorance. The devil makes people to believe that by watching these explicit materials, they can control their sexual desires. It is a very big lie. Watching these explicit materials is like feeding poison into your system. it works slowly but very effective.Some people may not watch pornography but the kind of movies and soap operas they watch do not glorify God. Many will raise eyebrows here but dear reader I want to ask you a question? Tell me if you can invite Jesus into your room to watch a movie or a soap opera where two people are engaged in an amoral act? Certainly not! I am not saying people should stop watching movies or soap operas but they should make a good choice. A choice which will not defile them. Remember a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump 1 Cor 5:6. You may not be aware of the effects until it affects your salvation. Beloved if you find yourself in this category, renounce it in Jesus name and ask for forgiveness.


Sexual immorality is on the ascendency as a result of what people watch. The kind of apparel people put on causes others to sin. Many believers have backslided as a result of what they watched. My dear friends is better we all dress to glorify Jesus covering the sensitive parts of our bodies. Remember the scripture says the offence will definetely come but woe to the one through whom the offence comes.(Matthew 18:7). Let us do all things to glorify God. Let us not live according to our senses but live under the influence of The Spirit.


HOW DO I GET OVER OCULAR SIN?

For God has not called us unto uncleanness but unto holiness 1Thess 4:7. Beloved I am suggesting some points which can help you overcome ocular sin.

It is the will of God that we walk in holiness, watch in holiness, think holy because that is what we have been called to do.

I. Confess your sins 1John 1:8-9: You have to admit that it is a sin and confess sincerely to God. Remember God knows all things and nothing can be hidden from Him.


2. Renounce and Repent Genuinely: In Jesus' sermons about His Kingdom, He often talked about repentance. Without genuine repentance you cannot enter heaven. Renounce this sin. Say it aloud and repent from it with a genuine heart.


3. Ask For God's Strength to Overcome the Temptation: It is God who works in us both to will and do of His good pleasure. Philippians 2;13. Just accept the fact the fact that you can't do it on your own. Ask God daily to help you walk in His will. Ask in faith. Initially, symptoms of the past will try to surface but act in faith and believe God is faithful.


4.Ask God to Turn Your Eyes From Evil: Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.Psalm 119:37. This was a prayer of David and I believe he was so passionate about this prayer topic. So must you dear friend. It should be your daily prayer that the Lord should turn your eyes from watching worthless things(anything that arouses lust in you). Also tell Him to revive you so that you can walk in His ways.

Dear Friend as you read this I believe you will be blessed. Remember Jesus is concerned about every detail of your life and He is there to help you carry your load. Just ask for His helping hand and He will be there for you.

                                                                                                                          Glory To Jesus
OCULAR SIN