Today our Command: "Do Not Lust," is derived from Matthew 5:28-30. The words of Jesus are intense and are familiar words in the Bible. Who hasn't heard, "looking at a woman with lust is wrong?" Most know its consequences but is Jesus speaking about drooling over women in magazines, on a computer, at the beach, etc. If we stop long enough, most would say, "no." It goes beyond our finite way of thinking and deals with a more significant issue, the matter of cheating on God with "Lady Folly."
If you are unfamiliar with "Lady Folly" or "Lady Wisdom," for that matter, read Proverbs 8 - 9 to understand what Jesus is communicating. Understand the book of Proverbs lays out two paths any person can travel. All Christians have a choice for being loyal in their marriage with God. They can either devote themselves to God the Husband (Isaiah 54:5 [ESV]) or be unfaithful with "Lady Folly," through the world's adulteress way.
"Lady Folly" is boisterous and disorderly in her viewpoints, is naive, and knows nothing about her Husband's (God) Reality (Proverbs 9:13-18). When speaking with Christians, my concern is their prostitution mentality and street-smarts about God's objective existence and the subjective craving for selfish ways or the lack of self-control. Their lives are dominant toward "Lady Folly," both in the vision of life, the "right eye" Jesus says to pluck out, and how they do things, the "right hand" Jesus announced to cut off to avoid hell, now and for always.
Likewise, "Lady Wisdom" is the bride of Christ, and blessed is the person who finds her and gains understanding through her loyal and Wonderfully Weird Way. Her eyes are focused on divine vision (Genesis 1:31), and her hands work in a way that benefits everyone, and nothing a person desires can compare to her Way. She is a "Tree of Life," resulting in happiness, now and for always. Let me ask, are you happy and fulfilled?
If you are unhappy, all I can share is Jesus's words from our main verses…But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman [worldview] lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble [wrong vision], gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble [priorities and work], cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Today, stop lusting over worldly things, dispute your adulteress's ways, and decide to renew your vows with God the Husband. Recommit your life to live as the Bride of Christ [the church] as One, individually and collectively, to experience true happiness and fulfillment now and for always.
With true eternal love,
Pastor Drake