If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.  And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut if off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.  Matthew 5:29 NKJV

Yesterday our pastor began a study of the seven churches of the book of Revelation.  He gave an introduction into the book of Revelation and spoke of how there was a great deal of symbolism combined with a great deal of actual events that were going to take place.  When he spoke of the symbolism, he referred to our scripture passage this morning.  This scripture passage stuck in my head and I feel as though the Lord has put it in my heart to share my thoughts with you on this subject.

Matthew chapter 5 is the Sermon on the Mount.  This sermon begins by telling us what type of behavior will cause us to be truly blessed.  But then he speaks of offenses and judgment.  In our scripture passage he says that we are better off to lose an eye or a hand than to allow that member to cause us to sin.  That’s pretty extreme isn’t it?  In our scripture passage Jesus tells His disciples to cut their hand or their foot of should it cause them to sin.  He tells them to pluck their eye out should it cause them to sin.  Extreme?

Well, it is certainly not extreme in the context in which Jesus explains it.  I mean, I want you to join me in really thinking about this.  If I could trade one eye for everlasting life in the presence of God the Father, would I do it?  I believe so.  If I could give up a foot or a hand and avoid being thrown into a fiery hell for eternity would I do it?  Absolutely!  It’s a choice we make.

When you think about it, our whole life is filled with choices.  Sometimes one choice can determine the course of our life, but always the compilation of the consequences of our choices shapes our lives.

It’s those little things we do that we think nothing of that often get us into trouble.  In all honesty I have to say that if I were to follow these verses, I would probably be missing both eyes and both hands and feet.  Now the bible tells us that whatever we suffer here on earth is temporary.  So, if I forfeited my eyes and limbs here on earth I know that when I get to heaven I am going to be made whole, right?  And if I never make it to heaven, well, then it won’t really matter.  I’m going to be miserable for eternity in the lake of fire anyway.

I would love to sit here and tell you that my eyes have never caused me to sin, but I would be lying.  Matthew 5:28 tells us that if we look at someone with lust in our heart then we have committed adultery.  Matthew 5:22 tells us that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of judgment just as the one who commits murder. So, we know from Romans 3:23 that we all sin and fall short of the glory of God, right?  So if we all followed this verse we would all be blind and crippled.

But before you grab something and gouge your eyes out or try to saw a hand or foot off, remember this.  Jesus died to pay for our sin.  All we have to do is draw near to God and confess our sin.  We have to let Him know that we are sorry for sinning and ask Him to forgive us.  We then need to ask Him to come into our heart and fill our heart with the Holy Spirit to help us to resist temptation.

What an awesome God is He!  We can keep our eyes and limbs intact because he died for our sins.  He suffered shame and humiliation and pain that we can’t begin to imagine in order to save us from a life in hell.  But, remember, we have a choice.  We can choose to accept His awesome gift or reject it.  I pray that you will accept His gift today.  If you reject this gift, then losing your eyes and hands and feet will be nothing compared to the eternal agony you will endure.  And remember, eternal means forever and ever.

Have a great day!