I turned on the television only to find a news story that I did not really want to watch. As I flipped through the channels, I landed on a live murder trial. They were interviewing some specialists in computer forensics.

What the prosecution was trying to prove was so hard to imagine.

Although deleted, one of the specialists had been able to drag up off the surface of the computer’s hard drive evidence of Internet searches. The prosecution was attempting to convince the jury that the defendant had used the computer to search the Internet for specific information before committing a murder. In summary, the search terms that were used could be an indication that this murder was premeditated.

The defendant is the mother of the victim. It was hard for me to imagine her sitting around plotting the murder of her daughter to the point of researching these terms – some of which were very harsh. Of course, all are innocent until proven guilty, but that scenario is so hard for me to grasp.

Nevertheless Cain killed Abel, and murders have been happening since the beginning of time. Many of them are premeditated. How can people be so cold?

Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
John 8:42-47

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
James 1:13-15

In the first passage, Jesus said, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.” In the second we read that man is drawn away by his own lusts which leads to sin and ultimately death.

I am grateful for Jesus. We are in such need of our Savior.

LIFE APPLICATION

Today’s challenge is to realize that lusts are snares that lead to personal destruction. Ask God to show you if anything is becoming an inappropriate priority in your life. Often things that control us are hard for us to see. Ask God to show you any desires that you have that have begun to get a controlling grip on you. Then, ask God to help you put them aside and walk away before they become lusts that leads you astray.