Think about your spiritual life. Are you ready? If you’ve never accepted Christ as Savior, the problem of sin, your sinful nature, your soul, the curse of Adam is still there along with your eternal, dark destiny in a place too horrible to think of. Each person has the opportunity to do something with Jesus, to receive or reject him. The story today centers on a lake and the people who live in its towns—how they welcome and/or reject Jesus is the focus. Which side of the lake do you live on?
We all live somewhere, and in each community there tends to be a good side and a bad side to live. The Sea of Galilee is 11 miles long and 7 miles wide. There were many little towns up and down the lake. Capernaum and Bethsaida were on the west side. Gadara was on the east side. Tiberias was on the southwest side. The same type of people lived in each town. They had similar problems.
There was a man possessed with a legion of demons in Gadara. He was helpless or so it seemed. Many times we feel helpless because of our situations and think we have no other choice but to make the wrong choice. There is always a choice. There are devils at work in greater degrees than we realize. All means of communication are used to deceive and tempt us to believe anything and everything from the type of lifestyles we live to the values we possess. The mind and heart become battlegrounds.
The head of it all is the devil. He uses his demons, fallen angels, in any way he can. The Bible tells us that in the latter days people will refuse the truth and believe a lie and be damned. He worked the same on people on both sides of the lake. Both had the privilege to have Jesus come to them. One side rejected him; one received him. The people dealt with the same types of issues and problems, but the difference was their attitude toward Jesus. The devil works on all of us. We need Jesus in our lives today and every day. He is making a visit here today for a purpose. Which side of the lake will you stay on, the side who receives or rejects the Lord?
Look at the contrast in these verses. In one verse the people reject Jesus. In the other they receive him.
Luke 8: 37Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.
40And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.
There is a change in a person after receiving Christ. A person’s way of life is disturbed. If Jesus is not welcomed in a person’s life, it opens the door for the devil. The man in today’s story lost his decency. The demons caused him to tear off his clothes. His behavior changed. His home changed. He couldn’t live with his family anymore. The townspeople couldn’t have him around. He lived among the tombs in the graveyard. His condition was due to the powerful force of the demons.
Think about society today. Devils are all around us. This old world is about to wind up. When civilization comes under judgment of God, all will give account. The ready will be taken; the rest will be left behind. It’s time to deal with the demons in your life. You can’t handle them, but Jesus can. What you do with Jesus matters.
Before you can enjoy the pleasure of church, you must know Jesus. Church by itself won’t help you. Don’t get the cart before the horse. You must welcome Jesus into your life. Church follows. This man ran to Jesus. Nothing else would help him. Jesus made his way to the graveyard so he could help him. Instead of tearing Jesus apart, the demons melted in front of him. Thousands of demons controlled his life, his voice, and his tongue. He was bound in every way. He couldn’t say a word, but Jesus saw his heart. He knew the man wanted to be free.
The devil speaks to us through the television, through the computer, from top levels to the bar scene. He’s in schools. He’s in governments. Demons are working to steal the souls of men and women. Do you want to be free? Then make Jesus welcome. He can send the devils away.
These demons begged Jesus not to cast them into the abyss. They knew that was their place of judgment. He saw a herd of swine and sent them there. They immediately left the man and went to the hogs. Sometimes hogs are smarter than humans. They wouldn’t stand for it. They jumped off the cliff. On the other hand many people embrace the devil. I wish we’d all see the real side of Satan.
The man was then seen clothed, in his right mind and sitting at the feet of Jesus. Others saw their livelihood go over the cliff and were more concerned about that. They wanted Jesus to leave. He was not welcome on that side of the lake. That’s what he did. He got in the boat and went to the other side. Verse 40 says the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. That’s what made the difference.
Jesus still saves. He’s still the Son of God. We still have the ability to welcome him into our lives or reject him. What about you? Which side of the lake are you on—the welcome or unwelcome side? This is not a special effects fantasy world. When it comes to Jesus it’s still black and white, right or wrong, sin or the Savior, the world or Jesus.
You choose which side you’re going to live on.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 