Saddam Hussein’s heart
Saddam Hussein was the President of Iraq from 1979 to 2003. He was known for his authoritarian rule and involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts, such as the Iran-Iraq war and the Gulf War. His presidency was marked by human rights abuses. Saddam’s government carried out large scale executions on political opponents and ethnic minorities. Most significantly was the 1980s Anfal campaign against the Kurdish population in northern Iraq which many organizations estimate that it resulted in up to 100,000 civilian deaths.
When we hear about Saddam Hussein it is very easy to point the finger and say, “what an evil man, I’m glad I am not like him,” but don’t speak to fast! In the Bible, there were a group of religious people called the Pharisees, who thought and said things just like that. They thought that they were good people who had kept God’s law. So Jesus explains to them that there is a greater depth of understanding when it comes to the Law of God. He expounds, that though you may not have killed someone, when you hate you share the same hateful heart as a murderer; and even though you may not have committed adultery, when you lust in your heart you share the same evil desires (Matt 5:21-30). Jesus goes further and says, “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell” (Matt 5:29-30). This means that I must take extreme action to cut off the temptation to sin lustfully in my life. It means I have to guard my eyes. It means that we need to dress modestly. It means I must not put myself in compromising positions. It means I must not watch suggestive things on television or read suggestive things in books. But there is more to it than that…when Saddam was captured, by the US army, he was hiding in a cave that was full of pornography! In Iraq women are covered from head to toe. The suggestive shows and adverts that we have here, are banned in Iraq. Yet, men still lust in their hearts. Why? You can live in a cave on a deserted island, chop off both arms, legs and castrate yourself and it won’t remove the desire to sin because sin dwells in your heart. Major heart surgery is needed.
The purpose of God’s Law is twofold: 1) To put up a mirror and show you as one who is dead in sin and covered in the filth of it; and 2) To show you your need of the gospel and the gracious Holy Saviour, Jesus Christ. The purpose of the gospel is twofold: 1) so that you may be saved from the penalty of sin. That God will see you as righteous and so that you can dwell with Him in heaven because Jesus took on your sin and gave you His righteousness. Jesus swapped places with you. But Jesus didn’t stay dead, He rose on the third day defeating death and now sits on the right hand of the Father in heaven. 2) So that you can be free from the grip of sin. God creates a new heart in you (Eze 36:26), with new desires, making you a new creature (2 Corinth 5:17) and starting life again as a born-again Christian (John 3:3).
Pornography addiction is a debilitating, soul-destroying practise that can’t be resolved on your own or in your own strength. Up to 42% of women and 80% of men consumed pornography within the last year. 11% watch porn daily. A famous porn website is the fourth most-visited site surpassed only by Google, Facebook and YouTube. Reports say children today are exposed to it as young as eight, and that roughly 20% of teenagers and adults are addicted. Don’t let it imprison you. Don’t stop taking extreme actions to keep yourself from temptation. Don’t let pride get in the way of seeking help. Don’t forsake the power of God’s Word and prayer. Find your satisfaction in Him alone.
Pray as David prayed in Psalm 51: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
