It’s dangerous to let your mind wander, especially if you spend much time on the internet like I do. With “Fact Checkers” and “woke” censorship you might think the bad stuff has been weeded out, but you would be sadly mistaken. It seems we are only protected from Christian material, conservative views, and climate change or COVID contradictions.
After the very public “Me-Too” prosecutions, and with pandering politicians blaming social media, you might think providers would be afraid to continually post content that exploits and degrades women. Again, you would be wrong. It seems the pandemic and now the economic downturn have caused these explicit posts to increase. Some of it is luring people to dangerous websites where viruses wait to attack your computer.
I used to report pornography whenever it appeared, but it didn’t help. Some of it was hidden in paid advertising! Either the posts were gone by the time they responded, or I received a note saying they have technology to prevent what I saw from happening. The problem is worse in Asia, where I have many Friends and try to share my Good News stories. I’ve had people I don’t know share trashy posts on my page. Thankfully a friend told me, so I removed it and blocked the sender. I can’t afford to let that stuff damage my witness or stop me from sharing.
Whatever other danger this material may pose, the thief is using it to “to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10 KJV). If you let your mind wander, you will be caught in his trap and “when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:15 KJV). That’s why you must “gird up the loins of your mind” (1 Peter 1:13 KJV) and be ready for service and resist the enemy. Your ability to serve will be degraded if you fall into the thief’s trap and become a casualty. But I can repent, and JESUS can forgive me! Yes, but how many souls will slip into eternity while you are recovering from the damage!
But I don’t have a problem resisting that kind of temptation. The Bible says, “let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor 10:12 KJV). You must “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7 KJV). Don’t forget the first part or you will lose. In last Sunday’s message Pastor Randall told us to “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Eph 6:11-13 KJV) stand! You’ll find that armor in GOD’s WORD and through the power of the HOLY SPIRIT!
And “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” (Phil 4:8) so the thief won’t find a place to dwell in your mind!
Wayne Lance (2022) – That’s Good News to Share!