After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea. “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” (Revelation 7: 1-3, NIV, Emphasis provided).
Gracious God, As we come before You today, we pray that You will extend Your grace over us, as we “study to show ourselves approved unto [You].” In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
As we move along with our study on protecting our minds, we come to the Gospel according to Mark, chapter 5. On April 21, our devotional made mention of the demoniac of Gadara, under the title of, “Run To Jesus.” In another place in Scripture, Gergesa, is the place cited, instead of Gadara. Today, we want to look at how degradation progresses, when the mind is brought under the influence of evil.
1) Mark 5: 4, NRSV, reads, “because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him.” It seems there was a time when they could at least hold him down and put chains and shackles on him. This situation had progressed so negatively, to the place where his behavior resembled that of an animal. The Bible talks about the need to “tame him.”
2) By the time he meets Jesus, his situation was entirely out of control, “and no one could bind him, not even with chains” (3). You see my friend, that is the manner in which evil works. The work of destruction goes from bad to worse. “Those wretched beings dwelling in the place of graves, possessed by demons, in bondage to uncontrolled passions and loathesome lusts, represent what humanity would become if given up to satanic jurisdiction. Satan’s influence is constantly exerted upon men to distract the senses, control the mind for evil, and incite to violence and crime. He weakens the body, darkens the intellect, and debases the soul” (The Desire of Ages, p. 297, Emphasis provided).
3) Evil autodestructs! We read in verse 5, “And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.” This is what I meant when I spoke about the “uncanny” behavior of those whose minds were under the influence of evil. Anyone in their right mind does not hurt him or her(self) (Ephesians 5: 29). This only happens when they are out of their minds; while they are under the evil manipulation of the master-mind of the prince of darkness! This man had become the embodiment of evil, and it was destroying him! Caveat lector!
4) If allowed, evil will take full possession of us (Mark 5: 7). This demon completely controlled the man! He possessed his body. He usurped his character by changing his name – Legion! The man managed to kneel before the Savior, but the demon silenced him, and spoke in his place in an attempt to defy the Savior! God pity us, when by departing from the plain Word of God, we come under the influence of the Adversary!
5) Praise be to God! The Savior has come to save us, because He knows the desire of our hearts; and He knows what we would do, if we were free to do it (Mark 5: 6)! “The encounter with the demoniacs of Gergesa had a lesson for the disciples. It showed the depths of degradation to which Satan is seeking to drag the whole human race, and the mission of Christ to set men free from his power” (The Desire of Ages, p. 297, Emphasis provided). Hallelujah! This poor man wanted to be set free, but in himself; he was powerless! He needed a Savior! “Just when [we] need Him Jesus is near … Just when [we] need Him most!” Praise God! We will continue.