The Empty and Swept House
In Matthew, Chapter 12 Jesus teaches:
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation (Matthew 12:43-45).
Dr. Gary Cohen writes in the March-April 2011 issue of "Zion's Fire" that this parable, "centers not on the cleansed man, but on the unclean spirit and only at the end does it focus on the man. It is the unclean spirit, a demon, who apparently desires to be housed in some flesh so that he might actuate his evil . . . the cast out spirit's idleness is unhappiness for him, as we might see in a habitual criminal, anxious to find some more evil to do. He then decides to return to his original home . . . and discovers it to be, 'empty, swept, and garnished.'" Upon returning to his original home, the spirit finds it so much better that he invites seven other unclean spirits to join him. Jesus drives home the point when he states, "And the last state of that man is worse than the first" (verse 45).
What Jesus is teaching us is that self-cleansing creates a void. Self-cleansing without God usually results in a re-filling of the void with a worse calamity than the first. The typical "rehab" or 12 step program is just that, cleansing without God. That's why you see so many actors, actresses, and sport stars like Mel Gibson, Britney Spears, and Darryl Strawberry in and out of "rehab" so many times. They go off to some program or center and spend weeks being coached on self improvement and taught psychology. They get weened off of their drug of choice and purged of their addiction but fail to fill the void. It is no coincidence that these figures tend to get out of "rehab" and return to the same or worse condition. Jesus gave the answer and Jesus is the answer! Dr. Cohen writes that, "Self-cleansing without God coming into your heart leaves a void that must be, and soon will be, filled, and often with a worse ailment than that at the start." According to the prophet Isaiah, "But we all are as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). However, for a Christian it is different because Jesus promised that our void would be filled. Jesus said:
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you (John 14:16-17).
At Reformers Unanimous our slogan is, "Only the Truth Makes Free!" This is adapted from Jesus when He said, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). The Truth is not information, the Truth is a person. It is a person with whom we need to develope an intimate personal relation. This person is Jesus, God's Son. The Bible records that, "Jesus saith unto [Thomas], I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).
If you suffer from addictive behavior, find freedom here at Reformers Unanimous. Don't purge yourself from addictive behavior only to leave an empty void. Fill your void with Jesus Christ. Come to know the Truth and the Truth will make you free! Come join us this Friday at 7:00pm, we'd love to have you!