“Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her.” Judges 16:1
When it comes to pornography and sexual temptation, how good are your brakes? Are they in good repair? Are the brake pads worn? Do they stop you quickly enough, and often enough? Do you even use them?
That last question is not rhetorical. After all, Samson was a man consecrated to the Lord. God chose him from birth to lead Israel out of bondage to the Philistines. Samson was a Nazarite, an Israelite consecrated to the service of God. Renowned for his great strength, Samson nevertheless came to a humiliating end. Why? Because he didn’t control his lust.
You see how Samson operated from this historical account of his life. Samson went to Gaza. Saw a prostitute. Went in to have sex with her. No brake. From the moment he saw her to the moment he decided to go in to her, Samson had opportunity to apply the brakes. He could have walked away. But he didn’t. By this time in his life, his moral brakes didn’t work anymore where women were concerned.
Sound familiar? We live in an age where each passing year sees senior pastors, youth pastors, missionary and ministry leaders caught in adultery or sexual immorality and forced to step down from their positions in scandal. You know the names. Jim Bakker (adultery), Jimmy Swaggart (using prostitutes), Ted Haggard (sodomy), Ravi Zacharias (sexual abuse) Josh Duggar (child molestation and adultery), Carl Lentz (adultery). Hundreds more.
But you and I are no better, are we? These powerful Christian leaders were tempted sexually, and fell. You and I are tempted sexually, and fall. I viewed inappropriate materials as a Christian for 30 years and as a married man for 24 years. Sometimes I used my brakes. Sometimes I didn’t. But the blame lay in my feet, not in my brakes. My brakes worked fine. I just refused to apply them as often as I should, or as quickly as I should.
You and I both have a good set of brakes where sexual temptation is concerned. We have the indwelling Holy Spirit. We have the example of Jesus. And we have the clear commands of Scripture to flee sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18), put lust to death, and take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5). Why not test your brakes today to ensure they are in good working order?
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