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Welcome to today’s Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation covering Matthew 12:43-45 wherein we observe Jesus’ teaching on the danger of an empty house.
When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.
People may speak sometimes of just how great it would have been to be alive during Jesus’ time of ministry, to actually see Him at work and know for certain whether or not He was “the real deal.” But according to Jesus, living as a part of that generation was a very dangerous thing as well. He had done great works in driving demons out of people, freeing them from the bondage that they were under, refuting the accusations of the Pharisees along the way, and (of course) always drawing a crowd. Jesus though wanted to make something very clear. It wasn’t enough for the people to simply have Him around and be enamored with His works, benefiting from the many powerful acts of mercy that He delivered. It wasn’t enough for Him to be popular in their eyes or even for them to have a shallow belief that He was a great messenger and prophet from God. For as much as the demons trembled when He came into town, and as much as the people there might experience a sort of purification through His presence with them, if He would not take up residence on the throne of their hearts, the demons would have a hay-day when He was gone. For, first of all, it seems that such beings feel an intense need to inhabit someone or something, even if it’s a herd of pigs as we observe elsewhere. In other words, if cast out, they’ll be on the prowl. But then secondly, those who have in some way been near to Christ through exposure to Him (and perhaps even such nearness via the Scriptures today) but fail to actually embrace Him as Lord and Savior, find themselves desiring to be filled with something bigger than what they currently know. The receiving then even of demons might be all the quicker for such people, the door of their hearts being propped wide open. And then finally, it might be that the sign-seekers, like those of the generation Jesus was speaking to, remain open to just about any signs at all. Certainly Satan has many such tricks up his sleeve to offer.
My friend, what have you done with Jesus? Is He reigning on your heart as complete Lord of your life or are you merely a bit enamored with Him at various moments, considering yourself a very “spiritual” person. Do not take comfort in residing in the latter place, for such is the state that the devil and his fellow workers would love to find you in. Nothing saves a person but the Person of Jesus. Past experiences, current sincerity of heart, or plans for a better future may promise much but will never deliver the salvation that every hungry soul is in need of. Believe in and submit to the King of kings and Deliverer of abundant life eternal today.
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