That question is especially difficult to answer in relation to the lusts of the heart. Sadly, many Christian leaders have found themselves defeated in this area of their lives. Some have lost their families. Others harbor lusts in places of their hearts where no one would ever suspect. I've had more than one person ask me if it's really possible to have victory over the lusts of the heart.

The good news is that Jesus has been tempted in every manner in which we have been tempted. Yet, He was without sin. As we trust completely in Him, we can experience victory - His victory. There are two distinct characteristics of the life that experiences victory over lust. One is deeply spiritual. The other is very practical. Lust begins in the heart, but is consummated with physical actions. If we are to know victory over lust then we must deal with both areas of our lives.

The Bible describes David as a man after God's own heart. He loved God and trusted in Him alone. However, David yielded to the lusts of the heart in the latter part of his life and became defeated. His lust led to adultery and even murder. The sins and crimes of David were conceived in his heart on a roof one evening. He saw a beautiful woman named Bathsheba. She was bathing. That was a critical moment. David had a decision to make. Would he continue to look and allow lust to grow in his heart, or would he immediately turn and walk away from the temptation? Unfortunately, David made the wrong decision.

We can learn much from David's failure. First, it doesn't matter how many victories that you've experienced in your walk with God. You'll still have to chose against the lusts of the heart all of your life. A well known theology professor once told me that he was speaking to an elderly Christian gentlemen about 80 years of age. He asked the saintly man, "How old is a person when he no longer has to deal with lust?" The old man thoughtfully replied, "I really don't know. But I do know this. It's definitely after 80 years of age." As long as we're clothed in this old flesh, we'll have to deal with lust.

Second, victory or defeat begins with heart decisions. David could have immediately turned away from the privacy of the woman bathing. But he didn't. He allowed himself to look and continue to look until lust was finally conceived. His sin began before he ever committed adultery. It began in his heart. That's why Jesus pointed to the lust of the heart being the root of adultery.

Finally, David acted upon his lust. First, he sent someone to find out about the woman. Then he sent for her and committed adultery. Finally, he hatched a plan to have her husband killed. What began with an innocent look ended in the death of one of David's soldiers. At any point, he could have stopped his sin. But he continued in it until the deeds of death had grown from the tree of transgression.

If we are to know victory over lust, then we must go back to the conception of the sin. We must learn to deal with sin where it was initiated in our hearts. We must learn to make wise decisions. The choices that we make will ultimately result in life or death. We must learn to choose Jesus.