Internet Pornography

David tossed his book bag on the floor, walked over and closed his bedroom blinds, and then turned on his computer. He had homework to do—but it could wait until his parents got home. Right now he had other things on his mind. All day long at school he had been waiting to get back to his computer. After waiting for his computer to warm up, it did not take long for David to log on to the Internet. And within just a few minutes, David found exactly what he was looking for—sites that revealed people without their clothes on. He had stumbled across Internet pornography just a few weeks earlier from an e-mail he received. Since then he had visited quite a few of the sites. He knew that many of the sites required a credit card, but some did not.

Sitting there in his room, David could not help but feel nervous. He reminded himself not to worry—after all, he had taken all the necessary precautions. He never gave any information about himself on any of the sites, he knew how to clear the cache memory out of his computer, his blinds were closed, he knew what time his mom would be home from work, and he knew precisely how many seconds it would take her to enter his room once he heard the garage door open. He had nothing to worry about, right?

Unfortunately, David's scenario is very common. Internet pornography is abundant these days, and most people with e-mail accounts have been sent links to these sinful sites. More than 200,000 Americans have become addicted to Internet pornography, and that number is growing with each passing day! Years ago, pornography could only be found in magazines, or in X-rated movies. But the Internet and television changed all that. Now this material is easily accessible inside your own home. While David may think he is home alone and will never get caught, he has forgotten that God sees everything, even if the blinds are closed! Consider the following scriptures from God's Word: "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:13). John wrote: "For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things" (1 John 3:20).

True, David's parents may never catch him viewing pornography on the Internet—but God has already seen him. Think for just a moment about what David's actions are doing to his relationship with God. The Bible tells us very plainly that lasciviousness or lustful behavior is a sin (Galatians 5:19-21). In a letter to the church at Rome, Paul described a group of people whom God gave up to "vile affections" (Romans 1:26-32). It should be obvious that God considers looking at pornographic material sinful.

Since the Bible teaches that sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2), what is David doing every afternoon when he surfs the Web for naked pictures? He is separating himself from God! Those pictures may seem important to David now, but think about how they are affecting his immortal soul. Can you imagine being in David's shoes and having to give an account to God for all that material he viewed, having never repented of such actions? Also, consider the people who made those images. Are they doing what God expects? No. Sadly, they are sinfully trying to get others to "flock" to lust rather than "flee" from lust (2 Tim. 2:22).

The Bible makes it clear that we're to fill our hearts and minds with good things—things that God would approve of. Pornography is definitely not one of those things. Remember what Paul wrote: "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things" (Philippians 4:8). When David turns on the computer in the afternoons after school and views pornography, he is not meditating or thinking on pure and good things. While the material is available, David needs to learn how to stay away from it in order to be pleasing to the Lord. It may take effort, but this decision is of eternal importance!

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