The Smell of Gasoline

We know that when she cast her eyes upon him, Joseph fled from Potiphar’s wife (Gen. 39:12). We know also that Paul told Timothy to flee youthful lusts (2 Tim. 2:22). In a world crammed full of enticements to lust, adopting this basic strategy is something that a lot more men need to learn how to do. But at the same time, it has to be remembered that enticements to lust come from more places than bawdy commercials, pop-up ads, or co-workers who don’t know what propriety means. Another enticement to lust is the law (Rom. 3:20). The law is good, but sin does know how to take the occasion presented by the law (Rom. 7:11). Sin does not just take the opportunities arranged for you by the strange women of Proverbs. Men need to learn how to be as careful with their applications of the law (which includes the rules for fleeing) as they are with the direct enticements to sin. It is obviously no good to be enflamed with lust because you are using porn. But it is also no good to be enflamed with lust because of an arbitrary list of taboos that you mistakenly believe are helping. Far better to turn away from all such things like a grown-up. So before you dowse the fire with it, make sure you know what gasoline smells like.