May I Keep My Eyes on You

"...he had his dwelling among the tombs." Mark 5:3

Jesus encountered many unclean spirits and people who needed to be delivered from them. Here in the 5th chapter of Mark, Jesus and his disciples were met by a man taking refuge in the tombs who had hundreds and hundreds of evil spirits tormenting him. Even if he was chained, the man could break out of them and smash his shackles to pieces. Night and day, he would scream and hurl himself at the rocks. Jesus sent the two thousand demons into a large herd of pigs. The swine rushed headlong into the sea where they were destroyed. 

Do we believe there are demons abroad today? I know there are. And they do not hide in tombs. I know of one case which happened to a very rich family living in an exclusive neighborhood. One of the daughters needed an exorcism by a priest. The priest could see a huge spirit sitting on top of their beautiful home. Unfortunately she did not want to be exorcised. She wanted to continue with her sinful ways, leaving her husband and family for someone else, and consorting with people who could only do her harm. Although outwardly she was glamorous and popular, in a way she was much like the man in the tombs. She liked her chains and continued to smash herself against rocks. 

The movie “ The Exorcist” was inspired by a true story which happened in 1949. The name of the 13 year old boy it happened to was a carefully guarded secret, but after several exorcisms, he happily returned to normal. The parents found out it happened because of a spiritualist aunt who taught the boy how to experiment with the Quija Board. The strange activity started with scratching sounds on walls, progressed to shaking of his bed, and furniture moving around with no one touching them. The boy would speak in Latin, sometimes in a low demonic voice, and become so violent that he had to be exorcised by nine Jesuit priests and 48 witnesses for thirty times over a period of six weeks! 

In 1 Timothy 4:1, we can read what Paul wrote: "Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons." In 1 Peter 5:8, we find, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour." 

Yes, unclean spirits are abroad today, and we must not allow them a foothold in our lives. Where there is hatred, unforgiveness, selfishness, envy, lust, promiscuity,  anger, etc., we give permission for our enemy to lay a finger on us. Lord, may I always be vigilant. May I keep my eyes on You. May I stay away from any darkness or chains of bondage, and live in Your wonderful light.