From Horror...to Peace
Neither of us have a good understanding of it. Ignorantly, we think because we can’t see them, they must not exist.
The subject is demons.
They are the underlings of the devil. Their job is tormenting …every moment of every day. Neither of us have a clue of the pain and suffering a demon brings. We don’t understand how a demon could possess a person. Yes, there is an evil more powerful than human ability to prevent it…demons.
Yet, reading Luke’s biblical account gives us an idea.
“Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.”
Luke 8:26-33
Can we imagine? The man could not keep clothes on himself. It is a fact neither humorous or indecent. It was degrading. The man could not have the fellowship and touch of another human. He was painfully alone. He could not control himself-the demons broke the chains. They caused him to live among tombs-a place for the dead. Their control filled the man with ongoing horror.
Jesus is the Son of God. Just a few verses before this account, Luke documented His perfect power over nature and storms. As Jesus stepped on shore, there is no oral dialogue between Him and the multiple demons in the man. Jesus was already commanding the demons to leave the man-He did not need to speak audible words. Perhaps He had begun His demand for the demons to leave while He was still on the lake.
We might wonder “How does this narrative relate to us? We don’t know of anyone with demons.”
But there are demons-even today. And even today, Jesus has complete power and authority over them…and the one who commands them-Satan.
We may not know know of anyone possessed by demons. But they are always at work. Demons tempt us. They bring thoughts that when acted upon lead to sin-suffering and torment. They can isolate us from others…make us feel alone. Just like the demon possessed man, they can make our lives horror filled. They are real. The Bible has more than a dozen specific references to demon or demons.
How do we deal with demons? The question is Who…not what strategy, not what therapy, not what medication. WHO? Who changed the man’s life of horror to one of peace? We both know, we read the verses from Luke.
Jesus.
He knows the demons we face. And He loves us as much as this man. Jesus has power over all of them. Only Jesus can change the horror of demons to peace. He can do it now.
He hears the cry of our hearts.
Say Jesus.