You Can't Keep Both Eyes
We must choose between struggling with sin and quitting it, and prioritizing our eternal destiny over our temporary desires.
Elisabeth Elliot shares a powerful story of a young man delivered from drug abuse but tempted back, emphasizing the danger of allowing even a 'little bit' of sin in our lives. She highlights the importance of not excusing disobedience by using the word 'struggle' and the need to completely quit sinful habits rather than tolerate them. Just as Jesus warned about the seriousness of sin by urging to remove what causes stumbling, we are called to take drastic measures to avoid falling into the fires of hell.
Text
A young man was delivered from a life of self-destruction in the form of drug abuse. He turned from his old ways, but of course was pursued by the enemy and tempted back. It was clear to him that he could not afford to be lenient with himself in allowing the least indulgence in the old habit. One day he said to his pastor, "Don't ever allow me to use the word 'struggle.' Every time I use it I am excusing disobedience, I am really prefering to 'struggle' rather than to quit."
Jesus made this necessity sharply clear when He said, "If it is your eye that is your undoing, tear it out and fling it away; it is better to enter into life with one eye than to keep both eyes and be thrown into the fires of hell" (Mt 5:29).
To struggle--that is, to allow a "little bit" of sin, to be cautious with ourselves, tolerant of a certain amount of plain disobedience, is to try to keep both eyes.
Sermon Outline
- The Dangers of Struggling with Sin
- The Necessity of Radical Surrender
- The Choice Before Us
- Struggling vs. Quitting
- The Cost of Compromise
Key Quotes
“If it is your eye that is your undoing, tear it out and fling it away; it is better to enter into life with one eye than to keep both eyes and be thrown into the fires of hell.” — Elisabeth Elliot
Application Points
- We must be willing to quit sinning rather than struggling with it, even if it means sacrificing our comfort and desires.
- Prioritizing eternity means putting God's will above our own desires and comfort.
- Compromise with sin can have severe consequences, including entering into the fires of hell.