In Trouble Again

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. When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. (Luke 8:26-35 ESV) I find that the interval between “in trouble” and “out of trouble” to be shorter as life goes forward. In fact, I seem to be in trouble a lot more than not. As a follow up to yesterday’s thought, I began to explore if there is anything to be gained from being in trouble. I suppose we gain some sympathy or attention; we may even gain some excuse for our problems. However, those are not really things I want to possess, especially as I count the cost of having them. I would rather be out of trouble rather than not. The demoniac of our reading wants to be healed. He falls at Jesus’ feet to worship him. Yet when Jesus commands the demons to come out, a voice snarls: “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” The poor wretch wants to be rid of his demons, yet he wants to hold onto them and they to him. We do strike deals with our demons, for to be rid of them is to be rid of the excuses or the security they provide. We are like the rich young ruler who comes to Jesus looking to be cured of what ails him, yet when Jesus offers the cure the man goes sorrowfully away. He wants to be healed, but he doesn’t want to be healed. It’s a strange truth, but we are often like that. We are attracted to, and repelled by, the grace of God. We want Jesus to help us, but help means change, and change is difficult too. It often hurts. Fortunately, Jesus doesn’t give up on the demoniac; he won’t leave until the man is healed. What do you need Him to change in your life today? He certainly will work in your life. He doesn’t give up on any of us. Embrace your change today.