Matthew 12:33-35
“Now when the unclean spirit comes out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they come in and live there; and the last condition of that person becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.”
What we learn from Jesus’ message that we can’t be neutral when it come to God. He says in Matthew 12:30, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.” This would be a shock to most. They wouldn’t want to be against God. They think being neutral is safe territory.
We are a child of God or we aren’t. He adopts us when we go to Him and ask for His forgiveness and we accept Him as our lord. We are for Him and with Him. All else are against Him. Which translates into our eternal home. Heaven is for His children. Sadly all else are hell bound. That’s difficult to write, but true.
Most want to live a good life attempting to not bother any one. Which sounds fine, but shows a misunderstanding of the human state. Due to Adam and Eve, we’ve been born into sin. We need forgiveness to be with God. We can’t pay for it ourselves and go to heaven. That’s why God sent Jesus to die for our sins. That cleanses us and unites us with God. Not to do so keeps us in a state of sin.
Today’s passage has a deeper meaning. It speaks to demon possession. I’ve been told that one cannot be demon possessed unless they open the door to him. This can be done directly or indirectly. To do so indirectly means that we give control of ourselves over to something other than ourselves. Drugs come to mind.
It may be that some who have been into drugs and have been damaged are demon possessed. Their lives are a residence to a demon(s). They can go to God and ask for deliverance. If He grants it, then they are in a precarious place. If they don’t accept Jesus into their lives they are in danger of the demon re-entering their lives. That’s a tough reality and the meaning of today’s passage.
There is an easy answer. Join God’s side. He loves us and wants the best for us. True, we are no longer in control of our lives, but He is the best life manager there is. He becomes our shepherd and we become His lambs. Read through Psalm 23 and see the blessing of Him being our Shepherd.
Once we are in Christ, the best place to be is close to Him. Some flirt with the world and spend too much time with things that hurt us. I see walking with God as a pathway. The safest part is in the center. On the extreme left or right there are branches that lean in and can bang our heads. There are critters that can nip at us as well. The world and the devil have their temptations. Flee from them. Being on the extremes of the path is where they are.
A line from the Christmas Carol comes to mind. “Man of the worldly mind”. While it refers to being a materialist, we can be a christian and have a worldly mind. We can also travel too close to temptations. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” We renew our minds by being in the bible, going to church and associating with christian friends.
Don’t be neutral, but love our heavenly Father. Walk with Jesus. Allow the Holy Spirit to fill and control us. It’s a wonderful life in Him.
Lord, thank You for being our Father. Keep us with You and close to You. Thank You that You want to be close to us. Thank You.