LEDA LIKED TO LOOK at pornography during work time until one day, they discovered her, and her Christianity was left in doubt before the whole company. It is not that Leda was not a Christian; it is that she was human, with an addiction that was difficult to overcome and with a secret in her life that soon came to light. Let the first stone be thrown by the one who is free of falling victim to the net the enemy sets around human appetites. The menu of possibilities is so wide that it clouds our sight.
However, the fact that we acknowledge we are humans with a carnal nature is not justification for not doing anything to live a lifestyle that pleases God. In Him is strength if the desire to try is in us. What is the life that pleases God? We have a vision of it in Psalm 24.
«Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?’ asks the psalmist. This is the response: «He who has clean bands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol» (Psalm 24:3, 4). Let us take it one step at a time.
He who bas clean hands. What does it mean to have clean hands? It is basically the difference between the thought and the practice. Do temptations and desires attack us? Yes, several times a day—perhaps wanting to behave wrongly toward one’s neighbor or simply to enjoy sin. Avoiding having a thought cross our minds is impossible, but paying so much attention to it that we seek a way to put it into practice is indeed preventable. It pleases God when we take responsibility for our actions by not committing that which we know would displease Him.
He who has a pure heart. Religion obviously does not consist in keeping up appearances, but in a purity of thought that is achieved as we see that God gives us the power not to put into practice the desires of the flesh. Victory after victory, our way of thinking adjusts to biblical principles.
He who has not lifted up his soul to an idol. Those who wish to please God do not delight in vain and useless things, but in the profound, in the things of God, in everything that is worthy of praise.
«Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol» (Psalm 24:3, 4).