Message Summary: "Your eyes are too pure to look on evil." That's a great verse to ponder. The specific evil that Habakkuk had in mind is likely different than the evil today but the same principle applies.  Today evil takes on many forms and is as prevalent today as it was in Habakkuk's time. It certainly is far more accessible due to our technological age.  Evil abounds but I refuse to process that dark thought without following up with the reassuring Scripture, "Where sin abounds grace doth much more abound." Hallelujah!

Listen to this message on your audio player.

"Your eyes are too pure to look on evil" (Habakkuk 1:13a). Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong" (1 Corinthians 16:13). “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people” (Ephesians 5:3). "Keep yourself pure" (1 Timothy 5:22). "All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:3).

Last Saturday we visited New Bedford, Massachusetts which is the largest fishing port in the US in terms of dollar value of catch. Its location is also famous for the Herman Melville novel and movie, "Moby Dick" starring Gregory Peck as Captain Ahab who led whaling ships from New Bedford and lost his leg in his attempt to capture a great white whale. We enjoyed a delicious seafood lunch at "The Black Whale" right along the harbor overlooking the scallop fleet. There's just something about eating seafood with an up-close view of the harbor!

As we walked along the harbor we noticed a boat with an interesting name "Hear No Evil". Brooksyne thought immediately of the three monkeys on a poster with their eyes, ears, and mouth covered. The script over their heads read, "Hear no evil, see no evil, say no evil." When Stephen saw the fishing vessel's name, "Hear no evil", he thought right away of Psalm 23, where the Psalmist wrote, "I will fear no evil."

Evil abounds no matter where you live, as is evidenced in the world news or it might be right in your own neighborhood. We could cringe in fear or we can take to heart the Scripture from Isaiah 43:1, "Do not fear for I am with you....I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

But actually the message "hear no evil" is packed with meaning. Although we don't know what motivated the boat owner to name it this way, we can sure think of a good spiritual application.

We must overcome our fear of evil and we most certainly must be careful that we do not engage in evil actions. "O be careful little eyes what you see" is a simple repetitious chorus many of us recall singing in our childhood. In fact many of you could sing the words below even though you may have not heard it for many years. Though written for young children it also has a message appropriate for all ages.


We consider the temptations common to children. It's a song to tuck away in one's memory that will continue to influence us in our adult years as we seek to shun evil. The simple chorus considers the daily spiritual cautions we must heed in what we choose to view, to hear, and in how we use our hands in helping others rather than hurting or stealing from them. And it also includes the message of keeping our hearts and minds pure, which guides our actions, both positive and negative as instructed in Proverbs 4:23: "Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

But now consider the flood of temptations assaulting the eyes, ears and minds of both children and adults. Before the accessibility to smart phones, computers, and many such devices parents were more informed and able to observe their children's "wanderings". Remember the days when there was one telephone shared by all in a common place where you knew who your child was talking to and you never had to be concerned about the images being displayed.

Now it's nearly impossible to know what your child accesses in the privacy of his or her room, school, library, or anywhere due to data and wi-fi. It is vital that parents set up roadblocks and protections as much as possible to prevent a child or youth from accessing or engaging in ungodly behavior. Of course, it is essential to be a role model that quietly but visibly shows, "Do as I do" or as Paul wrote in "Follow my example, even as I follow the example of Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1).

Habakkuk is one of the lesser-known Old Testament prophets. In fact he has one of the shortest books with only three chapters. In today's first verse he makes a timeless observation about the unchangeable God.

"Your eyes are too pure to look on evil." That's a great verse to ponder. The specific evil that Habakkuk had in mind is likely different than the evil today but the same principle applies.  Today evil takes on many forms and is as prevalent today as it was in Habakkuk's time. It certainly is far more accessible due to our technological age.  Evil abounds but I refuse to process that dark thought without following up with the reassuring Scripture, "Where sin abounds grace doth much more abound." Hallelujah!

If we say that we love God we must dutifully walk in integrity and moral purity.

Jerry Bridges writes, "Our minds are mental greenhouses where unlawful thoughts, once planted, are nurtured and watered before being transplanted into the real world of unlawful actions. These actions are savored in the mind long before they are enjoyed in reality. The thought life, then, is our first line of defense in the battle of self-control."


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, we ask for clean hands, a pure mind, and a steadfast heart that follows hard after You. Temptation regularly knocks at our door, but with Your Holy Spirit residing within, we have the will and desire to turn it away.  We don't want even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, or anything considered improper for Your holy people. It is through Christ that we can live a life above reproach that daily seeks to honor You and influence others for Your kingdom. Amen.

---

---

"O Be Careful Little Eyes What You See"  Video   Cedarmont Kids

"Slow Fade"  Video  Casting Crowns  A powerful song which actually incorporates the words "O Be Careful Little Eyes What You See"

"Guard Your Heart" Video  Steve Green  Also begins with "O Be Careful Little Eyes What You See"

* New Bedford fishing port

Finally today: