Flee from the Lust of the Eye.

This is a direct and powerful command, echoing the wisdom of the Apostle John and the urgency of the New Testament to guard our hearts against a primary avenue of temptation.

Here is a poem and reflection on fleeing from the lust of the eyes.

---

Flee the Lust of the Eye

The eye is not a passive glass,

Through which indifferent scenes may pass.

It is a gate into the soul,

A force that can exact a toll.

It looks upon a thing and sees,

Not what it is,but what it pleas—

A twisted,covetous desire,

A spark that lights a selfish fire.

It is the second glance that lingers,

On what the sin-touched world now fingers.

It is the gaze that feeds the thought,

The battle that must truly be fought.

“For everything in the world—the lust of the eyes…

comes not from the Father but from the world.”(1 John 2:16)

So what’s the call? To stand and stare?

To test my will,to dare, to dare?

No.For a fire, the command is clear,

You do not stay,you flee in fear.

“Flee from sexual immorality.” (1 Corinthians 6:18)

“Flee from idolatry.”(1 Corinthians 10:14)

The lust of eyes is both of these,

A snare designed the soul to tease.

So I must run. I must not stay,

And look upon the tempting display.

I turn my head,I shut the screen,

I guard my heart,and keep it clean.

But nature hates an empty space,

A turned-off screen,a guarded face.

So I must fill my eyes with light,

With beautiful and holy sight.

“I will set no worthless thing before my eyes…” (Psalm 101:3)

But rather,“I lift my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord…”(Psalm 121:1-2)

I fix my gaze on things above,

On Christ,the source of grace and love.

I look upon His Word,so true,

And see the world in light made new.

Flee from the lust of the eye.

And run to Him,your heart's true prize,

The beauty that will bless your eyes.

---

Understanding the Command:

The "lust of the eyes" is the covetous desire ignited by what we see. It is the craving to possess, experience, or indulge in something that God has forbidden or that draws our heart away from Him.

1. It is a Primary Temptation: It was one of the three avenues of temptation used on Eve ("saw that the fruit was... pleasing to the eye") and on Jesus ("showed him all the kingdoms of the world").

2. Flee, Don't Flirt: The biblical command is not to "resist" or "be strong" in the moment of intense temptation, but to FLEE. This acknowledges our weakness and the danger of the sin. It is a strategic retreat to safety (2 Timothy 2:22).

3. It Leads to Idolatry: The lust of the eyes makes an idol out of what we see—whether it's a person, a possession, a lifestyle, or an image. It promises satisfaction that only God can provide.

4. The Positive Pursuit: We don't just flee from something; we flee to Someone. We actively replace the corrupt input with pure input, fixing our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) and setting our minds on things above (Colossians 3:2).

A Prayer for Purity of Sight:

"Heavenly Father,

My eyes are a gateway to my soul, and I confess that I have often allowed them to wander into places that breed lust, covetousness, and discontent. Forgive me.

Give me the wisdom and the courage to flee from the lust of the eyes. The moment a tempting image or a covetous thought arises, help me to turn away instantly. Create in me a reflex of purity.

But Lord, don't just leave my eyes empty. Fill my vision with Your glory. Help me to fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. Let the beauty of Your Word and Your creation be my primary feast.

Guard my heart by guarding my eyes, and may all that I look upon lead me closer to You.

In Jesus' name, Amen."