August 3rd
“31For their rock is not like our Rock, Even our enemies themselves being judges. 32For their vine is of the vine of Sodom And of the fields of Gomorrah; Their grapes are grapes of gall, Their clusters are bitter. 33Their wine is the poison of serpents, And the cruel venom of cobras. 34“Is this not laid up in store with Me, Sealed up among My treasures? 35Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them.’ 36“For the LORD will judge His people And have compassion on His servants, When He sees that their power is gone, And there is no one remaining, bond or free. 37He will say: “Where are their gods, The rock in which they sought refuge? 38Who ate the fat of their sacrifices, And drank the wine of their drink offering? Let them rise and help you, And be your refuge. 39“Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand” Deuteronomy 32:31-39 NKJV
This passage gives a vivid picture of the true nature of idolatry. Idolatry is often involved in sexual addictions. It means “immoderate attachment or devotion to something” (Webster’s Dictionary). It should be easy for us to see how sex addiction is an immoderate devotion to sexual fantasy and lust.
Idols like pornography are “false rocks” that people run to for help (see verse 31 above). People may use sexual fantasy to medicate emotional pain from past wounds, running to it whenever they are confronted with a trigger that links them to the pain. The false rock of pornography provides temporary relief from the pain, yet it poisons our souls with bitterness leading to destruction. The Bible says that the true Rock is Jesus Christ (Romans 9:33). When we start running to Jesus for help when we hit the triggers instead of porn, we’re on the road to recovery.
Moses linked the false rock of idolatry with the “vine of Sodom.” This vine can be contrasted with the True vine of Jesus Christ (John 15:1). The vine of Sodom offered grapes of poison in bitter clusters. It produces wine that is the venom of serpents. It has no power to help those who turn to it (37-39) and it only destroys them. Pornography fits this analogy, as it poisons us with the knowledge of sexual sin. Once we’ve tasted of the forbidden fantasies, we enter a desperate struggle to try to contain the fires of lust that ensue. The venom of the pornography kills our ability to love people as God loves and reduces us to slaves of our own lusts.
If you have been running to the false rock or drinking from the vine of Sodom through sex addiction, there is hope and healing available through Jesus Christ. By inviting Jesus to forgive you, cleanse you and heal you of the destruction caused by sex addiction, you can begin walking into a new life and relationship with God.
Questions for further thought:
Are there some triggers in your life that seem to link you to pain from the past?
What would it mean to run to Jesus when you encountered each of those triggers instead of acting out in sin?
How does porn poison our minds?
Prayer:
“Lord God, you are one and only God. There is none besides you. Please forgive me for allowing anything to become an idol in my life. I repent from my sin and look to you as my Rock and my Redeemer. Please cleanse me from the poison of my idolatry and renew a pure heart and steadfast spirit within me. Thank you, Lord! I praise you now and forever, Amen.”