A Covenant with Your Eyes?

Try to make up what the following incomplete question says: W y ar s me l tt rs m s ing?

It may have taken you a few seconds to figure it out, but if you read—Why are some letters missing?—you got it!

If you did not figure it out, look at it again. You will notice that it is much easier the second time.

This is because our brains process everything our eyes pick up within the context of previous experiences. Based on whatever worked for us in the past, our minds will try to apply the same process to every similar future situation we face.

The eyes were marvelously programmed to assist the brain. A study by Baycrest Health Sciences illustrates this. Participants were allowed only seconds to memorize some objects displayed on a screen, followed by a blank screen. When another group of objects was brought up, they were to answer whether those were the same as the previous set.

“Researchers found that when older adults were shown the blank screen, they unknowingly moved their eyes in the same pattern as when they first saw the objects, as if they were rehearsing,” Baycrest reported on its website.

Advertising agencies know the power of tapping into the ocular organs. They are turning to eye-tracking technologies to hone their craft. One analytics company, for example, has individuals wear eye-tracking glasses as they visit a store. Pupil movements are recorded using infrared light, and the data can be used by companies to maximize the impact of packaging designs.

Truly, “the eye is not satisfied with seeing” (Ecc. 1:8; Prov. 27:20). This can be a dual statement: The eye always wants to see more, and as a direct result, we want to do more than just seeing.

According to The Discovery Eye Foundation, “80% of our memories are determined by what we see,” and “80% of what we learn is through our eyes.” Sight can have more influence in our decision-making than any other sense.

If you ever doubt this, all that is needed is a review of how Satan got to Eve. It states in Genesis 3 that “the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes” (vs. 6). Further, as soon as she and Adam ate the forbidden fruit, “the eyes of them both were opened” (vs. 7).

The eyes are where mankind’s sin began. Since then, Satan has been tapping into the same pair of organs, perhaps more than any others, to lure humans to sin.

Nothing new there. The devil uses this tactic because it works. How sobering, considering how much more visual stimulation we receive today versus the time of Genesis 3.

One man in the Bible developed an effective way to gain control over the fleshly pulls caused by this portal between the mind and the world.

This man is Job. His actions illuminate a crucial lesson on how we can equip ourselves against temptations involving physical sight.

Establishing an Agreement

Job was one of three men God uses as examples of righteous men (Ezek. 14). The other two are Noah and Daniel. For emphasis, they are mentioned four times in verses 14, 16, 18 and 20. While no amount of human righteousness can impress God—Job himself had to learn humility through suffering—there had to be something special about these men for God to mention them.

Surely Job’s example is not there just so we can read it and remark, “Wow! Job was so righteous, I could never measure up to him.” Not at all! His book is there so we can learn from him as we can from all of God’s faithful servants (I Cor. 10:11).

One aspect of Job’s life that stands out almost immediately is that he was very wealthy. Job 1:3 shows he had thousands of livestock, a “very great household,” and was considered “the greatest of all” men in the east (of Egypt). He practically had access to anything he wanted.

Yet in chapter 31 he mentions a treaty he made in his mind, which speaks volumes about his temperance and integrity.

Verse 1 states, “I made a covenant with my eyes.”

What does that mean? Most know of the other covenants in the Bible: the Old Covenant, the New Covenant, God’s covenant with Abraham and with Noah (with the rainbow as a sign), and so on.

Yet how often do you think of Job’s covenant with his eyes? The rest of the verse and up to verse 12 make plain that the context is avoiding adultery. But this concept can be applied even more broadly.

The Hebrew word translated “covenant” can mean alliance, pledge, treaty and league, according to Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon. It can also mean constitution and ordinance.

Job crafted a powerful covenant—a binding agreement or constitution—so that his heart would not “walk” after his eyes (vs. 7).

Think of legal agreements. These are carefully crafted documents that are then signed. Similarly, the Founding Fathers of the United States signed the Constitution.

Job made such a pledge, ordinance—covenant—with his eyes.

Realize the seriousness of this action. Exodus 34:28 states that the Ten Commandments are also a covenant. Job was making an ironclad agreement with his eyes. Yet why the eyes? Why not his hands, feet or tongue?

Special Emphasis

The Bible speaks of various body parts that can play a role in sin, either directly or indirectly.

For example, the tongue: “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridles not his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is vain” (Jms. 1:26).

Ear: “Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the Lord is unto them a reproach…” (Jer. 6:10).

Hand or foot: “If your hand offend you, cut it off: it is better for you to enter into life maimed…And if your foot offend you, cut it off: it is better for you to enter halt into life…” (Mark 9:43, 45).

Yet the Bible places special emphasis on eyes. I John 2:16 states, “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.”

Do not miss that the “lust of the eyes”—not the nose, ears, tongue or anything else—has its own category and is listed separately from the “lust of the flesh.”

Those two sophisticated balls resting on either side of your nose have the potential to cause such lust that they are among the three things that are “all that is in the world.”

The Greek word defined lust means “desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden.”

Satan, as prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2), injects wrong thoughts and attitudes into our minds. Such pulls are made even stronger if there is a visual component.

Where to Start?

Recall that when Job made a covenant with his eyes, it meant he promised to avoid looking lustfully at women.

This would have almost certainly involved building a habit to not look at women in that way. If a person tends to “check out” the opposite sex, he or she must build an opposite habit—averting the eyes!

For Job, he added an additional element, that of a covenant. Realize that baptism and marriage are both covenants. If Job made such a promise with his eyes, it was on the same level as the most important decisions Christians can make.

Have you ever thought about overcoming sin in this way?

Jesus Christ explained how we should take drastic action if there is a sin with which we struggle: “If your right eye offend you, pluck it out, and cast it from you: for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell” (Matt. 5:29).

Of course, we should not literally gouge out our eyes. However, we should act with determination and seriousness to avoid spiritual death!

Take Action

Job 31:1 specifically relates to looking upon someone lustfully. But the principle applies to any sin that relates to your eyes. Each area of weakness should be attacked head-on.

In the digital age, a person no longer has to leave his house to be tempted to look lustfully at the opposite sex. Pornography is everywhere, as are risque television programs. Even prominent news sites are littered with scantily clad celebrities.

If you struggle with this issue, take action! Ask God daily for more of the gift of repentance. Avoid TV shows or websites that can spark lust and cause sin. If you feel the pangs of lust from something you see, get out of there! Do not keep looking at whatever is causing the problem! Follow the clear instruction of I Corinthians 6:18—flee!

But what about other areas of visual lust?

Covetousness is also increasingly difficult in the digital age. Anything can be purchased at any time with a few taps of your finger on a smartphone. Even if you decide not to purchase something, you will likely see ads for it for the next few weeks every time you are online.

Take action! Are there websites you should not be visiting? If needed, use an ad-blocking software to not be reminded of the item you really want.

Christianity can be difficult. Some­times it can seem like those not living God’s Way have it easy by comparison. The psalmist Asaph struggled with this too: “For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked” (Psa. 73:3).

If this is an area of weakness, put what you see into perspective. Remember that you are one of the very few called to know God’s truth and that the “wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). Whatever you see others doing that makes you envious, memorize specific Bible verses to defeat this thinking.

Even activities that are not overtly sinful or wicked can be part of your covenant with your eyes. Psalm 101:3 states, “I will set no wicked thing before my eyes.” The word “wicked” here can mean worthless or unprofitable. Are there visual activities that are unprofitable and eat up too much of your time? Do you spend too much time on social media and other websites such as Pinterest, YouTube or Facebook?

One factor that can worsen “the lust of the eyes” is alcohol. Notice Proverbs 23: “Look not you upon the wine when it is red, when it gives his color in the cup, when it moves itself aright” (vs. 31).

Alcohol in moderation is fine. But if you drink too much, your inhibitions will disappear. Verse 33 states the result: “Your eyes shall behold strange women, and your heart shall utter perverse things.”

Even slight inebriation from alcohol can cause you to entertain thoughts and actions you would not otherwise. Moderate drinking is a must to keep a covenant with your eyes!

Positive Replacements

Any covenant has a list of dos and don’ts. So far, we have focused on what not to do. Yet, to ensure success, there are a number of habits we must build.

You should read God’s Word daily. Proverbs 7:2 states: “Keep My commandments, and live; and My law as the apple of your eye.”

In addition, Proverbs 3:21 says that you should “keep sound wisdom and discretion” and “let not them depart from your eyes.”

We should also constantly be on the lookout for opportunities to give: “He that has a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he gives of his bread to the poor” (22:9).

Also notice: “He that gives unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hides his eyes shall have many a curse” (28:27).

If you focus on giving to others, you will be less likely to think selfishly and turn toward lust and covetousness.

Think again of Psalm 101:3. If you are not to set any worthless thing before your eyes, what about things that are worthwhile? Seek out activities and imagery that will help you draw closer to God.

Fill in the Blanks

Recall “W y ar s me l tt rs m s ing?” from the introduction, and how our minds process everything our eyes see with the context of past experiences. Your brain may have been trained for years or decades to “fill in the blanks” in things you see—with lustful thoughts.

If you have struggled with any kind of visual temptation, now you better understand why it is so difficult to resist.

It is time to retrain your mind and establish some checks and balances to keep your eyes from wandering. Draft your pledge, stand in front of a mirror and look straight at them—tell your eyes where their limit is! Turn them into “instruments of righteousness” (Rom. 6:13).

As one of the most amazing proofs of God’s creative genius, they were made to serve you, not the other way around—and definitely not the devil.

Take righteous control of your eyes. If you do not, Satan will. Only by setting boundaries to our physical sight can we expand our spiritual sight.

Yet this concept does not stop with your vision. Overcoming the lust of the eyes will empower you to overcome other issues in your life. The principle is easily transferable.

What other “blanks” or weak spots do you have? Look for them. Identify them. Understand them. And, if needed, make a covenant to overcome them.