Putting Lust in Isolation
What is lust? Have you ever wanted something so bad, the thought of it consumed you? Then, on top of that, you wanted more and more of it? You wanted it so much, you did—well, let’s not mention what you did to get it. Lust causes us to set aside our good decision-making skills. We can lust after a person, money or status. Lust has no bounds, but ironically can only go so far and do so much to holistically satisfy us.
In our culture, one of our favorite lusts flaunts itself on movie, television, computer and mobile phone screens. We see it on the pages of magazines and billboards. What does buying a car have to do with a woman in a bikini again? But it works.
Sexual desire drives many people who fall into relationship traps. They base their feelings on sexual excitement—body tingles and racing hearts.
When we meet someone, we can get caught up in the physical aspects of the relationship. For a lot of men, developing a deep, personal connection is nowhere on their radar. The typical timetable of a lust “bomb” consists of one or several nights of passion and an explosion with someone walking away after the thrill fades. Each time that person leaves to find their next adventure, they leave a trail of body counts. And the next body could be yours.
Loveless relationships go against the very nature of our creation. Even a pursuit of money, status and things can cause us to harm those who get in the way of what we want. We were created to love and cherish one another.
When we wait until marriage to fulfill our sexual desires, we will also get the bonus of a deep emotional connection with our spouse (See: “The Wait” book review). God created us for more than just temporary and shallow lust. Though it may feel good at the time, this type of self-satisfaction harms us in the long run. Healthy human emotions long for deep, unconditional love that does not end with the rising of the sun but stands the test of time, bringing true contentment.
What’s so countercultural about this kind of love?
Our culture encourages notches on our belts and hooks ups. We prefer sexual lust over deep relationships, communication, purity, vulnerability with one another, and love. God says we should seek a different kind of love. This is true love:
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
There are men who can love you like this. It’s true, good things come to those who wait. Falling in lust is easy, but true love endures forever.
If you want to take a journey from lust to love, you don’t have to do it alone. If you want to live fearless and free, a relationship with Jesus Christ can make that happen.
