A book report

Written August 5, 2008

I just finished a great book by Josh Harris (he wrote I Kissed Dating Goodbye) called Sex Isn't the Problem (Lust is). It's amazing that the more I talk to men of any age and in particular single guys in their 20s like me, the more I realize that every one of us has made compromises in the area of purity in our lives. We've all made decisions that have led us to seek our own selfish desires of the flesh and caused our walk with Christ to suffer. Josh Harris wrote his book about this very issue. I thought this book was terrific and has given me new insight and courage to battle for purity.

Chapter 7 is especially convicting and I encourage everyone to at least read this chapter. Josh talks about how the slightest of compromises can lead to gigantic sin. This is how Satan snares us. He gets us to make seemingly petty decisions that eventually continue to build until we have a real problem on our hands. Josh speaks of lust as an unquenchable desire. The more lust is sought the more one must view or fantasize about or do in order to satisfy the craving. But the craving never gets satisfied, it just grows and grows removing us from God's truth about purity.

Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God. (Mt. 5:8) I know I want to see God and experience all of Him that He has to show me. I know I cannot do that if I live in lust. No one can.

Going back to Chapter 7...Josh quotes a note that John Wesley's mother wrote her son when he asked her what sin was. Basically, she tells him that anything that is unsettling in your heart, however innocent in itself that it may be, that is sin. The chapter goes on to quote a very powerful and convicting statement telling us that we need to stop fighting within ourselves to justify the things in life that we know compromise our purity and our walk with Jesus, discard them, and move on to something better! How many movies do you own that compromise God's truth? I know I have at least 40 of them back in Yokosuka that I loooooove to watch, quote with friends, and recommend to others who have yet to see them. This goes beyond what's bad for me if I'm endorsing these movies and telling others to go and see them too! What do I plan to do? As impossible and nutty and stupid and moronic as I'm trying to tell myself it is to throw away hundreds of dollars of "harmless" movies, I know in my heart that God has called me to die to my flesh and live in the Spirit of Truth. It's radical, it's completely rediculous by the world's standards, but I live for a higher purpose than anything this world has to offer!

I will use you, my loyal xanga reader, to hold me accountable for this and I will be sure and post once I have rid my life of more of the things influenced by evil to throw me off track. I'm done toeing the line or wondering just how much filth of this world I can take in and still live a godly life. Why risk going too far? Why risk that which I hold most dear to my heart? Do you take these risks? I do every single day...and most of the time knowingly! How foolish! God calls Christians to so much more. Praise be to Him who has convicted me to seek His kingdom and His righteousness above all else! You want joy in your life? You can only find it through an obedient walk with Jesus Christ. Take a chance. I did and I've found meaning in life that I never knew existed. I encourage you to do the same if you haven't already.

To God be the glory!