Today’s reflections urges us to have a personal reflection on our lives and how much we appreciate God for all he has done for us.
All of God’s creation praise and worship him. All of God’s creation stand in awe of him. But man is proud and foolish. Too proud to acknowledge the omnipotence of God; too foolish to appreciate the love and mercy of God.
Rather, man worships things he has made (can make) with his own hands, instead of acknowledging the God who created man.
The refection draws inspiration from the Gospel message of Mark 5: 6-13 & Luke 8:26 – 39. This is the story popular know as the healing of demoniac (the demon possessed man). It is quite and unusual story for me, because I marvel at how the passage ended, especially from Mark’s account of this narrative.
If you are yet to read this story please do so, in other to appreciate the reflection better.
The narrative is basically about a demon possessed man who had been afflicted by many demons for quite sometime. He was so uncontrollable that he broke the chains that were used to restrain him. He even caused himself harm but cutting himself with stones. In simple terms; the man was being inflicted by a force beyond his control and he couldn’t get help from anywhere. His case was a dead case! Probably, that’s why he was confined to the tombs, can we say: to wait for his death.
There are many lessons to draw from this story, which we would look at in brief points:
- The fact that he was possessed was no fault of his. People sometimes find themselves facing affliction which they have no idea about. In this case, some get possessed from an external or greater force.
- The man had no power to solve his problems, even when he was being tormented to cut himself. Our education, physical, intellectual, skill, certificates, position and all we may acquire may be useless when we face some challenges in life.
- No mental or physical means of restraining him. The society may attempt to assist in curbing or resolving the challenges in people’s life; but some cases are beyond physical and mental restraint.
- In this critical period of his life, the man was abandoned to his fate. The tolerance and support that people can give are very limited. Especially, when the case brings disgrace, disappointment, confusion, and out rightly defies any remedy applied.
- He was probably left for dead. The demoniac can be likened to a mad man in our contemporary time. We see a lot of forsaken persons in our communities. They roam about the street and the question I often hear is; where is there family? Demoniac in the story wandered into the tombs, where the dead were buried. As far as his family was concerned, he was a lost case. He was dead to them.
- This man got to the level were he communed with the spirits. In fact, he was controlled by the spirits. How much of his humanity was left?
- Even the demons acknowledge the presence and authority of Jesus Christ. Jesus is an authority in the Kingdom of Light… the demons from the Kingdom of darkness acknowledge and bow to this authority.
- Spirits seek to dominate a person, animal or territory. We have to conscious invite the spirit of God to possess us so that we won’t fall prey to contrary spirits.
- We are more valuable to God that a 100 sparrows or 2,000 pigs. God’s holds us in high esteem. He calls us the apple of his eye. This is why Jesus can give up himself to save us.
- God values us more than things. Jesus was ready to destroy a herd of 2,000 pigs to save 1 man’s life. In the wisdom of man this may be a challenge.
- Unfortunately, Human beings value things more than fellow human beings. The owners of the pigs where more interested in the pigs they lost than the man who was restored. It is safe to say that, in other to protect their possessions, they didn’t want Jesus around, and told him to leave the town. Similarly, it is also possible to say that human beings value things more than self. A person refuses to give up things to save his/her life. They saw a man who could heal them of serious problems but asked him to leave. As Jesus would ask, “What does it profit a man who gains the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul?”
- After the man was saved, healed, restored to sanity, he expressed his love for Jesus. It is said that, we may not love much until we have acknowledge how much we have received. This man knows how much the affliction has caused him. He was practically separated from the living. And even staying alone was an infliction in torments. He acknowledged how much the Lord had done for him. WHAT NO MAN COULD DO FOR HIM! He simply fell in love with Jesus and sat at his feet. And desired to follow Jesus!
Now, I would ask you, how much of Jesus did this man know? We are told in Mark’s account that he went preaching about Jesus in 10 different places.
The man wasn’t waiting to know much. He experienced the goodness of God and was ready to say this good news. If not for any other experience, it was simple… Jesus saved me from my situation, Jesus is good to me, you have to know Jesus!
So why do Christians find it difficult to talk about Jesus? Even after reading the whole bible; are you ashamed of what Jesus Christ has done for your (and is still doing for you)? If you are ashamed of Jesus here on earth, he would be ashamed of you in heaven. Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26
Amidst the many things God has done for us, how much have we acknowledged his mighty hand in our lives and desired to proclaim his name to everyone we know? From our childhood to this moment, there are numerous and uncountable blessings. Above all, we must acknowledge the salvation of God by the ransoming of the world by the blood of Jesus. John 3:16
Today I want to sit at your feet oh Lord, I want to proclaim your name to the nations, for all you have done for me. What no man could or would have done. You saved me from damnation, and brought me into God’s wonderful light to experience the Kingdom of God. You welcomed me to become God’s child and a heir to the throne. I love you Jesus!
Let’s see if you would be ashamed to share this post to other today! It may be your opportunity to spread the good news of Jesus!
Speechless