Addiction is idolatry. When you are addicted, you crave something or someone to the exclusion of all else. When the craving comes, it becomes all-consuming, impossible to stop. And it is never enough, as Proverbs 27:20 tells us. One of the lies that addicts tell themselves is “I can quit anytime” or “it’s not a big deal.” If you are addicted to pornography, stop lying to yourself and get help! If you are trapped in the sin of covetousness and idolatry, you are putting your desire for “a created thing” before the God who made your life and gives you every breath you take! He takes that very seriously! Paul says, “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). Being addicted to sexual images is really no different than bowing down to an idol of stone or wood. It is just idolatry of the heart.
God wants us to be free. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). He continued, “Whoever commits sin is a slave of sin” (v. 34). The Apostle Paul echoed the same teaching: “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16). Paul explained that God wants us to be free from the chains of sin, and become “slaves of righteousness for holiness” (v. 19). He wants us to have “fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life” (v. 22).
If you have been enslaved by sexual lust but want to be free, you can! Turn to God with all your heart—everything you have. Submit to Him in every part of your life. All of it belongs to Him anyway, for He made you! Humble yourself before the ever-living God. As James writes, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:7–10).