Mark 9:43-48
43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.
This passage follows the warning to not cause another brother or sister in Christ to sin. This pretty much says that it is better to die a death of drowning than cause others to sin. Then Jesus goes on to talk about the “would be betters” of our own temptations to sin.
HANDS:
For some of us, it is the work of our hands that gets us into trouble, the desires of our material selves. Or it might be the addiction to work and all the choices we make to support that addiction.
FEET:
For others it is where we go and who we allow ourselves to be surrounded by, or even our environment/circumstances we allow, that can be hot beds for us to say “Yes” or “Just this one time” to sinful desires. This can even include self-isolation where we entertain self-loathing or other behavior that seeks pity, people-pleasing, pride, or encourages our selfish thoughts and feelings.
EYES:
Even more will be lured by the flesh of the eyes, the lust of women/men, the brain-rot of “slinging reels” or other avenues of time waste and windows for sin into our souls.
Each of these is followed by the “Better to be <maimed, crippled, or with only one eye> than find yourself in the Lake of Fire for Eternity” where the fire never goes out, nothing ever dies, and anguish is constant. I really like how the amplified talks about the maimed, crippled, or one-eyed “life”.
“It is more profitable and wholesome for you to go into life [that is really worthwhile] maimed…crippled…with one eye”
APPLICATION:
Do I allow opportunities to sin by my willful disregard of the things, places, or circumstances I know to be dangerous territory for me?
- Slinging “reels” as a way to “RELAX”?
- Cigars that can lead to more nicotine products?
- Alcoholic beverages that lead to more alcoholic beverages “to become relaxed”?
- Hanging out with that friend who has a twisted sense of humor that goes too far… where I am tempted to participate.
The biggest question I can ask myself is —
“Is King Jesus alone enough for me? If the answer is yes, then I must seek to choose the most Christ honoring and glorifying path.”