We all have desires; desires are a sign of a healthy person. We desire food, sleep, and interaction with others. We desire social acceptance, a good job, and sexual gratification. This is the old meaning of lust, to desire or have an appetite for something. Because desire and appetite are God-given, natural, and a sign of good health, we cannot classify lust as sin in itself. However lust, or desire, can tempt us to sin.
Let us go back to the first phrase: “Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away.” Away from what? Away from who? A person can be drawn away from contentment by his desires. He can be drawn away from God, the true source of contentment. He can be drawn away from a path of right action, even if he follows a legitimate desire. This is the way Eve, our first mother, was enticed away from obedience to God toward the forbidden fruit. In spite of having plenty of options for satisfying her desire to eat fruit, she followed her desire toward that which was forbidden by God, and her lust conceived sin.
This was the first sin that came into the ...
