Looks that Kill and Looks that Save
Opening Illustration: A young couple were sitting at the admiring one another. A middle aged man was walking his dog nearby. The young man looked his girlfriend in the eyes and said "you know, when I look into your eyes, it seems that all of time stands still". The reaction was glowing and the man with the dog decided he would have to use this tactic with his wife. He got home a little later and grabbed his wife in his arms and struggled to remember the right words. Finally he stammered, "woman, did you know that you have a face that would stop a clock?" You can imagine the reaction to that.
1 Jn. 2:16
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (KJV)
16 porque todo lo que hay en el mundo--los deseos de la carne, los deseos de los ojos y la soberbia de la vida-- no proviene del Padre sino del mundo. (SRVA)
Man has five senses and each of these function as doors or windows to his person. They are touch, smell, hearing, taste, and sight. One of these has the potential to be more powerful than the others.
Mt. 6:22 -The light of the body is the eye.
La lámpara del cuerpo es el ojo.
Ps. 101:3
3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. {wicked...: Heb. thing of Belial} (KJV)
3 No pondré delante de mis ojos cosa indigna; aborrezco la obra de los que se desvían. Esta no se me pegará. (SRVA)
I. Looks That Kill
A. Spiritual Death
Gen. 3:5-7
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. (KJV)
5 Es que Dios sabe que el día que comáis de él, vuestros ojos serán abiertos, y seréis como Dios, conociendo el bien y el mal. (SRVA)
6 ¶ And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. {pleasant: Heb. a desire} (KJV)
6 ¶ Entonces la mujer vio que el árbol era bueno para comer, que era atractivo a la vista y que era árbol codiciable para alcanzar sabiduría. Tomó, pues, de su fruto y comió. Y también dio a su marido que estaba con ella, y él comió. (SRVA)
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. {aprons: or, things to gird about} (KJV)
7 Y fueron abiertos los ojos de ambos, y se dieron cuenta de que estaban desnudos. Entonces cosieron hojas de higuera, y se hicieron ceñidores. (SRVA)
Here is the very first sin committed on the earth. It all began with the eyes.
God gave only one law in the Garden of Eden. Eve just couldn't keep here eyes off of that one tree. The serpent came along to entice her and "boom", she sinned.
B. Physical Death
Gen. 19:17,26
17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. (KJV)
17 Y después de haberlos sacado fuera, le dijeron: --¡Escapa por tu vida! No mires atrás, ni te detengas en toda esta llanura. Escapa a la montaña, no sea que perezcas. (SRVA)
26 ¶ But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. (KJV)
26 ¶ Entonces la mujer de Lot miró atrás, a espaldas de él, y se convirtió en una columna de sal. (SRVA)
Such a little thing; a glance. But it was such a large sin. It revealed the heart of the problem. It brought about an untimely end.
Those eyes of yours better be brought under subjection.
C. Death of Others
2 Sam. 11:1-4
1 ¶ And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. {after...: Heb. at the return of the year, or, in the spring} (KJV)
1 ¶ Aconteció al año siguiente, en el tiempo en que los reyes suelen salir a la guerra, que David envió a Joab junto con sus servidores y con todo Israel. Ellos destruyeron a los hijos de Amón y pusieron sitio a Rabá. Pero David se había quedado en Jerusalén. (SRVA)
2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. (KJV)
2 Y sucedió que al atardecer David se levantó de su cama y se paseaba por la azotea del palacio, cuando vio desde la azotea a una mujer que se estaba bañando. Y la mujer era muy bella. (SRVA)
3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? {Bathsheba: or, Bathshuah} {Eliam: or Ammiel} (KJV)
3 David mandó preguntar por la mujer, y alguien le dijo: --¿No es ésta Betsabé hija de Eliam, mujer de Urías el heteo? (SRVA)
4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. {for she...: or, and when she had purified herself, etc, she returned} (KJV)
4 David envió mensajeros y la tomó. Cuando ella vino a él, él se acostó con ella, que estaba purificándose de su impureza. Entonces ella regresó a su casa. (SRVA)
King David decided to stay home and not go to war with his troops. Slothfulness will always get you into trouble. In his boredom, he took a look from his balcony. Bathsheba was bathing (she probably believed that all the men were out of town). Anyway, David looked until his passions were out of control. He brought the woman to the palace and committed adultery with her.
Trying to cover his sin up, he had Uriah killed. Bathsheba is pregnant. That is not the end. The baby is born and according to 2 Sam. 12:15-18,the innocent child dies. All because of a "look" that was out of control.
II. Looks That Save
A. Saving Yourself
Col. 3:2
2 Set your affection (eyes) on things above, not on things on the earth. {affection: or, mind} (KJV)
2 Poned la mira en las cosas de arriba, no en las de la tierra.
Heb. 12:2
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. {author: or, beginner} (KJV)
2 puestos los ojos en Jesús, el autor y consumador de la fe; quien por el gozo que tenía por delante sufrió la cruz, menospreciando el oprobio, y se ha sentado a la diestra del trono de Dios. (SRVA)
Keep looking the right direction--UP
Looking back, you may crack
Looking down, you may drown
Looking beside, you're prone to slide
Looking behind, there's nothing to find.
B. Saving Others
Jn. 4:35
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. (KJV)
35 ¿No decís vosotros: "Todavía faltan cuatro meses para que llegue la siega"? He aquí os digo: ¡Alzad vuestros ojos y mirad los campos, que ya están blancos para la siega! (SRVA)
If we can just see the shortness of time and the urgency of these last days, there will be little problem in reaching the lost.
Isa. 45:22
22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (KJV)
22 "¡Mirad a mí y sed salvos, todos los confines de la tierra! Porque yo soy Dios, y no hay otro. (SRVA)
Let us tell others where they need to be looking to be saved.
C. Seeing that which is Invisible
Open those eyes of faith and see that which is eternal.
2 Co. 4:18
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (KJV)
18 no fijando nosotros la vista en las cosas que se ven, sino en las que no se ven; porque las que se ven son temporales, mientras que las que no se ven son eternas. (SRVA)
There are some things that you will only see through spiritual eyes. Get in the Spirit and see things that God shares with those who are intimate with Him.
Guard your eyes. Don't let things enter that can contaminate your soul.
Some would believe that you must pluck out your eye if it offends you; but there really is a better option; julst change your focus. Start looking at those things that are eternal. Look at that which is powerful to save.
