ROGERS — I have been thinking of the story of the man found living in the tombs recorded in Scripture. Jesus found him there forsaken by family, friends and foe. He lived alone there, naked and wounded. He spent his days and nights crying and cutting himself with stones. The best men had done for him was to attempt to bind him with chains and ropes, but he had broken them and could not be bound by any.

His case sounds all too familiar by today's standards. So many are left to themselves in hopeless circumstances with no help in sight. They have surrounded themselves with the dead activities of the world and theresult has left them scarred and crying out in pain. The best that most have offered them is some "chain" of a certain step plan to work their way out of the situation or some "rope" of laws that are promised to bring an end to their suffering. They have not been able to measure up to the standards of others and have broken ever system imposed on them. They are left naked without excuse fortheir lives, but in desperate need of some one or some thing to deliver.

When Jesus met the man, the demons within him cried out in fear of torment.

Jesus asked him his name and the demons answered "Legion." Oh, so true it is that many have lost their identity to the circumstances they have made league with.

They can't even answer for themselves. The demons within answer for them.

Jesus spoke to the source of the man's problem and cast the demons out and into the hogs that were near. The man was found by the owners of the hogs sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind. I wonderif some of his well meaning helpers were in the crowd?

These men were amazed and instead of happy for the man, they wanted Christ to leave their area. He was probably bad for business.

You see the circumstance, surroundings and results are not the problem of our lives.

They are the aftermath of the problem. Our problems spring from what is within.

Our nature is corrupt and bent toward the hog pens of life. This is where men traffic in the misery of others.

For one to be cured of the source is bad for business for them. They tend to remain silent in the shadows until a customer looks elsewhere for help. I wonder why weare so concerned with the symptoms and don't see the cause? Jesus goes to the heart of the matter, for therein lies the problem, our heart. This is so very sad when a lot of today's religion is aimed at symptoms and not the cause. Systems of "chains" and "ropes" are imposed, but always broken.

Laws, ceremonies and ritual is promoted as the way of deliverance. Yet, only Jesus can cleanse, cloth and calm a mind in turmoil or addiction.

I can relate to this man's desire of wanting to follow Christ. Jesus had another place for him. He was to go home to his friends and tell them how many great things the Lord had done. What atestimony to those that had tried and failed to help. What a witness for Christ of a life so radically changed. When Jesus returned to this area, the door was opened in so many places because of the testimony of this saved man.

Know any one like him? Perhaps you are in the place he lived and without hope. Jesus is your answer. He works from within. If you have been so delivered from your demons, tell a friend. That is one like you. They need the same cure. The witness of your life can open or shut the door for someone else.

Amen.

Carl Staten can be reached by calling 246-9858 or by email at lfpbc@juno.com.

In the Spirit, Pages 5 on 09/30/2009

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