It is so important for us to take time off our day to ponder on God’s word. Meditating on the lord's word gives us a chance to draw from His wisdom.
We've been studying the book of Matthew and I stopped to wonder at a parable Jesus told about a neat and tidy house that was empty. Let’s read it together
''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 eviler 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."
Matthew 12:43-45
Here we have words spoken by Yeshua, You could say that these words are a parable or an illustration.
Our Lord is talking about the way the devil can go out of a man and, for a time, he leaves him alone. Then He says the devil can come back to a man and when he discovers that the house in which he lived before (meaning, of course, the human heart) is cleaned up, beautified and organized he says to himself, "I shall bring with me seven other devils worse than myself." So, he comes and he enters this house (heart ) where he used to live and from which he was cast away bringing these other demons with him. And, says Yeshua, "the last state of that man is worse than the first"
As we study and read this parable we might ask ourselves, what is Yeshua teaching us through this incredible, remarkable and yet, frightening illustration.
Yeshua is instructing us that OUR HEART IS LIKE A HOME, In it can reside things that produce much hurt but it can also be the source for much good. We must understand that WHEN WE COME TO YESHUA (JESUS), OUR HOME (heart) IS CLEANSED.
As written in Hebrew 10:22 let us approach [God] with a true and sincere heart in unqualified assurance of faith, having had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
When we FIRST decide to follow Christ, our conscience is purified from dead works to serve God.
After making this crucial and incredible decision WE ARE EXPECTED TO "FILL" OUR HOME (hearts) with the word of God and let the Holy Spirit take over (dwell in it) just as written in Galatians 4:6 And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba! Father!”
We can find this behavior in 2 Peter 2:1,20 where Peter is talking to false teachers telling that they had been bought by the Lord, and fled from the pollutions of the world through Jesus Christ But later they had become involved with worldly things. In 2 Peter 2:20 it's written
" after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them [...] the last state has become worse for them than the first. "
In the case of the false teacher, they had renounced the right path (2 Peter 2:15 read the whole story) their eyes were full of adultery, hearts full of greed and they even denied that the Lord paid a great price for them (2 peter:1). Their situation became worse than before.
In our case, Our hearts can become "hardened" like a rock. Once hardened, our hearts might not be willing to listen or follow (Mt 13:15)
We can become so hardened through intentional sin that we count the blood of the covenant a common thing and Offend the Spirit of grace. We can even reach the point Where it becomes impossible to be renewed again to repentance Where we are crucifying again the Son of God.
You see, it is important for us to not let our home (heart) remain vacant but to always fill it with God's presence.
Now, how can we avoid this? Here are some steps, start by filling your home with Godly principles and practice?
1.Sanctify the Lord God in your heart - The word "sanctify" means to "set apart". We are called to be holy (set apart) so set your heart apart for GOD as the Ruler of Your life.
2. Be selective as to what goes into your mind, Follow the example of David - Ps 101:3-4
3. Set your mind on things above - Col 3:1-2
4. Meditate the word of God, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly - Col 3:16
5. Think upon things that are good and wholesome - Php 4:8
6. Remember, the transformation of character begins with rebuilding the mind - Ro 12:1-2
Now in practice
1. Use every opportunity to study God's word - cf. 1Pe 2:1-2
2. Read your Bible daily - Ps 1:1-6 ( Participate in Bible study programs that are offered online)
3. Fill your heart with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing at work, at home, in the car; sing alone and with others.
4. Be picky about what you watch on television and in the movies. Php 4:8
5. Select your friends carefully - 1Co 15:33 They will either help you to be strong or discourage your efforts - Pr 13:20
What is the condition of your "home" (heart)? Are you filling your "home" with good things? If not, then your heart will become a home for every evil thing and the condition of your heart may become seven times worse than before!
Have you been cleansed by the blood of Jesus, so that you are washed, justified, and sanctified? If so, amazing. But don't be misled into thinking that you do not need to be concerned about filling that dwelling with the
presence of God and with His word. or it may one day be said of you: "the last state of that man/woman is worse than the first"
So, what happens when we do not make the effort to fill our home (hearts) with godly things? Well, evil things are likely to return.
Shalom
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