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This past Sunday I led our pastoral prayer and prayed specifically against the sin of pornography in our culture. Sadly, this is a sin that enslaves not only the lost but also the saved. Many followers of Jesus have found themselves entrapped and enslaved by this devastating sin.  

I’ve found in my own battle against this sin that it’s helpful to remember the consequences of indulgence. Sure, sin feels good in the moment. But the pleasure of porn (or any other sin) never lasts.

Years ago I wrote a list of all the consequences I could think of. Perhaps this will help some man or woman to remember where this path leads before indulging the lusts of the flesh…

 

In the flesh, you will destroy your marriage. In Christ, your marriage can be made whole.  

In the flesh, you will trample over the grace of God. In Christ, you will treasure the grace of God.  

In the flesh, you will drive a knife even farther into your wife’s back. In Christ, you will care for her as Jesus cares for you.   

In the flesh, you will pass on a generational sin to your sons. In Christ, you will be an example to your sons of holiness and purity.  

In the flesh, you will continue to distort the way you view women. In Christ, you will treat women the way Jesus treats them.  

In the flesh, you will lose your eligibility for pastoral ministry. In Christ, you can put to death the deeds of the flesh (Rom. 8:13).

In the flesh, you will destroy a church for whom Christ died. In Christ, you will lead them to follow you as you follow Christ.  

In the flesh, you will spit in the face of all who have sacrificed to support you through the years. In Christ, you will honor their sacrifice by living a holy life.  

In the flesh, you will undo everything God has done to help you put this sin to death. In Christ, you will persevere to the end (Matt. 24:13).   

In the flesh, you will hurt everyone who looks up to you in any way. In Christ, you will help them to see that holiness and change is possible.  

In the flesh, you will pervert the gospel by living as a husband antithetical to Christ. In Christ, you have the power to love your wife as Christ loved the church (Eph. 5:25).   

In the flesh, your prayers will be hindered (1 Pet. 3:7). In Christ, your prayers will avail much (James 5:16).   

In the flesh, you will not be satisfied, no matter what image or video you see. You'll always want more. In Christ, you will be satisfied (John 6:35).   

In the flesh, you will be overwhelmed with guilt and shame just seconds after your demonic climax. In Christ, there is no condemnation (Rom. 8:1).    

In the flesh, you will refuse the way of escape that Christ has given you. In Christ, you will flee (1 Cor. 10:13-14).   

In the flesh, you will cause your wife to doubt your love for her and her beauty. In Christ, your actions will cause her to flourish (1 Thess. 5:9-11).    

In the flesh, you will be caught. In Christ, you can be holy, blameless and above reproach (Col. 1:22).   

In the flesh, you will break your wife’s trust-- one second of unfaithfulness may take one year to heal. In Christ you will rebuild trust and experience the joy of healing.  

In the flesh, you will make real intimacy impossible. In Christ, you will experience deeper intimacy than anything promised by the world.  

In the flesh, you will grieve the heart of God who bled for you. In Christ, you will please Him with eyes that long for Him above everything else.