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THE EYES
BY IRMA F. MATRAI

Dr. K.F., was a tall, middle aged, friendly dentist. He was especially kind to his women patients. Therefore many of them were attracted to him. And he enjoyed the attention. However, he was also married and had four children. At the same time, he professed to be a Christian. Yet, at home, in secret, he spent his spare time with reading dirty magazines and books and watching pornographic videos.
Now, he didn't look at the worst kind, but the ones he was enjoying were bad enough to have a great impact on his personality. Thus, eventually, even his looks gave the impression of a sly, flirtatious, mixed up person while his conversation was always concentrating on the topics he read about and saw at home. In addition, he slowly gave up his daily Bible reading and prayer time and became disinterested in their church. Although he continued to attend in order to get his wife off his back.



Then, one day he fell. He cheated on his wife. She found out about it and became very sad but determined as well. Therefore, she clearly told him that he has to give up his mistress, flirtation, reading material and videos immediately; or move out of the house, in other words, give up his family. For, she was not going to live with an adulterous man nor expose their children to his bad, sinful influences.




Dr. K.F., took her request to heart. He broke up with his mistress, and threw out his pornographic magazines, books, and videos. At the same time, he truly repented of his sin; pleaded for the forgiveness of his wife and children; and totally yielded himself to the Lord. Next, he took his family for a long overdue overseas vacation and afterwards returned to his home-church as a new person. The people were glad to see them back and were surprised how well he looked.



"What happened to you?" They asked. "You look much better then before your vacation. You seem younger, your face seems so peaceful, and your eyes seem so clear! It looks like this trip was real good for you." They said.
Of course, the church-members didn't know what kind of problems he had before the vacation. They only noticed that he changed. However, his wife knew what happened and was convinced that his countenance or looks changed because he gave up his tempting reading materials and videos and his sin.



Jesus said (Luke 11:34 NIV):
Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.

These verses seem to indicate also that Dr. K.F.'s looks must have cleared up because he gave up his sins. The same can happen to us too. Namely, that what's inside us may become visible on our face. Why? Because our eyes have an influence on our desires, actions and spirit and are outwardly reflecting all that is going on within us.



 "Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of a man." We read in Proverbs 27:20 (NIV).
For, when we are interested in someone or something, the first step is to look at the person or thing casually. But if we really enjoyed what we saw, we look back again, and again, and again. Then, if we don't stop; the sight may turn into temptation and the temptation into sin.


King David's fall seems to prove that. One day he went up to the roof and saw Betseba, Uriah's wife. Then instead of turning away or keeping himself busy with other things, he called her over and committed adultery with her.

Afterwards, God seriously chastised him, his family and even his people. Only because his eyes caused him to be tempted and sin. (2 Samuel chapters 11,12.) The same can happen to us too if we don't turn away our eyes before we may be tempted. Like David: we too may fall into the trap of sin and suffer chastisement. For, to this day Galatians 6:7 (NIV) holds true. Namely, that
"A man reaps what he sows." And he may not reap alone. Everyone around him/her may suffer also.

The Old Testament Job must have known this. That is why he decided, to watch his eyes saying:

"I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl." (Job 31:1 NIV.)
He didn't allow his eyes to roam. He avoided temptation. He was a wise man. But am I, and are you as wise and careful also?



In 1 John 2:15-17 (NIV) we find the following advice:

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

Evidently, our eyes play a very important role in our body because they are connected with our heart, and emotions, from which our actions originate. Looking, desiring, acting and reaping the spiritual impact; that is the order. This is what happened to Dr. K.F., and King David. First, they repeatedly looked into the wrong direction; next, they developed a desired for the wrong person; then they sinned; and finally they tried to hide their sin.

Of course, the same order holds true if we use our eyes to look at Godly, blessed, Biblical examples, or things also.
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith... so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
Recommends Hebrews 12: 2-3 (NIV). Why? Because if we continuously and decidedly keep looking at Jesus, then we will develop a desire to be more like him. and eventually our desire will turn into action, our spirit will be renewed, and we will be able to lead a victorious Christ-like life.



Job's and Dr. K.F.'s example indicate that it is our responsibility to guide our eyes. If with the help of the Holy Spirit, we are willing to avoid looking at, or looking back at tempting persons or things; instead continuously look at Jesus; then our looks will lead to Christ-like desires, actions and abundant blessings for ourselves and our surroundings.



"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,
the author and perfecter of our faith...
so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
Do you, and do I really want that?
It is possible! Let us follow Job's example and use our eyes to glorify our Lord's name.