16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

These verses are often quoted in relation to smoking, drinking, drugs, and other harmful habits, and much of it is true.

But there is another aspect to this that often gets overlooked, and that’s the thought life and what goes into your body that you cannot see. Jesus himself said it that what you think about is as if you had actually committed the act. Matthew 5:25-29

That’s a tough teaching because we are constantly being bombarded with ideas, concepts, and teaching that is contrary to the Christian life.

The Bible teaches us to guard our minds, put on the full armor of God, and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (Proverbs 4:23, Ephesians 6:10-18, 2 Corinthians 10:5)

All of these steps are active in nature, meaning we have to take decisive action before we are overcome by worldly, godless thoughts.

Yes, Satan and his minions never stop trying to captivate the minds and souls of people. Fortunately, the God we serve is infinitely more powerful than any of his created beings – including Satan – combined.