Of course, these aren't the only things that God calls us to steer clear of.  Perhaps you are strong or fortunate enough to keep from impregnating your girlfriend, but even a lustful thought can be spiritually deadly.  Jesus told His listeners that once they entertained a lustful thought, they had sinned as much as a man who committed adultery (Matthew 5:28).

Be Like Joseph (Not me … the one in the Bible!)

The only chance we guys have at victory is to not even give sexual sin a chance.  Consider Joseph in the book of Genesis.  When Potiphar's wife was coming on to him, he didn't stick around to give her some godly counsel and try to get to the root of her problem; he ran screaming out the door!  She grabbed at his clothes and he simply fled.  If something is causing you to sin, get rid of it. 

I imagine that King David could have taken a lesson from his forefather Joseph.  One day David was on the roof and saw Bathsheba taking a bath.  His lust burned for her so fiercely that he commanded her to come to his palace and had sex with her, a married woman.  Then he murdered and lied to cover up his actions.  Imagine:  adultery, murder, and the big lie, all because of wanting to satisfy a lust.

I wonder how many times he recalled that day and thought to himself, Why didn't you just get off the stinking roof?  Note to self for the future:  stay off roof.  Better yet, maybe I should just move! 

God has provided us two very vivid examples for us to observe, so that we can make the right decision.  Take the right action.  Run away!  Get off the roof!  Do whatever it takes!

Do you need to burn some calendars or magazines?  Do it!  Do you need to replace the picture of that sexy lady on your computer?  How about a photo of a nice kitten?  OK, you can go with a monster truck – but only if there's not a lady in a string bikini next to it!  Whatever the temptation is in your life, get rid of it.  Whatever you need to do to keep from presenting your brother with a stumbling block, please, do it!  The rest of your life will thank you for it.

Winning Strategies

Lust is the genesis of our war with sexual temptation.  If we want to have any chance of not becoming a casualty in this war, it has to start here.  We have to fight to win our minds back with strategies like prayer, reciting Scripture, looking at women from the chin-up, praying for women we think about, and occupying our minds.  While we do, we must not forget to look out for our brother, and to be like Joseph by not even sticking our toe in the door of sin.

If we get serious about fighting back in the battle for our minds, then fighting the other battles will become much easier.

From "Sex and the Single Guy."  © 2005 by Joseph Knable.  Used by permission of Moody Press.  All rights reserved.

Joseph Knable  is a graduate of Cedarville University, and a Second Lieutenant and pilot trainee in the United States Air Force. He speaks to college students, churches, high schools, men's groups, singles, and youth groups about purity and related topics. For more information about his ministries and to contact Joe, log onto www.josephknable.com.