Vacant

Luke 11:23-28 (The Message)

"This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you're not on my side, you're the enemy; if you're not helping, you're making things worse.

"When a corrupting spirit is expelled from someone, it drifts along through the desert looking for an oasis, some unsuspecting soul it can bedevil.

When it doesn't find anyone, it says, 'I'll go back to my old haunt.'

On return, it finds the person swept and dusted, but vacant. It then runs out and rounds up seven other spirits dirtier than itself and they all move in, whooping it up. That person ends up far worse than if he'd never gotten cleaned up in the first place."

While he was saying these things, some woman lifted her voice above the murmur of the crowd: "Blessed the womb that carried you, and the breasts at which you nursed!"

Jesus commented, "Even more blessed are those who hear God's Word and guard it with their lives!"

On the surface, and at first reading, this passage of scripture is fairly shocking.

How can this be right?

Jesus says that a person, newly freed from an evil spirit, can be "re-haunted," only this time, with seven other, dirtier friends along for the ride.

What?

How does this work, and what can it mean? Maybe it's not so complicated after all.

Watching the news recently, I saw a segment about crime in empty, foreclosed houses.

In some Atlanta neighborhoods, police departments have developed entire new details that just patrol foreclosures and empty houses within subdivisions.

It seems that thieves have been coming in at night, and stealing everything that could be of any value. Wiring, appliances, lighting fixtures, sometimes even the kitchen cabinetry.

See...those houses were probably "swept and clean," but they were still empty. They were very vulnerable to those who wanted to invade them and do bad things.

Maybe we people work the same way.

I've known people...and can remember experiences from my own youth...when I know that God has swept the house, but nothing then came to fill it.

What I mean is, prayer-rail conversions at the close of worship services...mountain top spiritual experiences of all kinds...they're to be celebrated...but they can't be the total story.

What happens when the "amen" is said, and life must be lived?

What we need is to be filled. What we need is a path of discipleship, and trusted guides who will show us the way.

Jesus said that the "truly blessed" are those who hear God's word and then "guard it with their lives." We can't do that alone. And that's my vision of "church."

A place where you won't be left vacant and vulnerable...a place where there are pastors, disciples, teachers, mentors, friends, helpers, support...and a place where you can meet the Holy Spirit.

A place where you can be filled.

Prayer: Teach us the message of this difficult scripture. If our hearts are swept clean by forgiveness, but left vacant and vulnerable...we pray that you would fill them by the power of your Spirit, and the witness of the friends with whom you surround us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.