Matthew 12:43-45 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.… The central lesson of this text is this: THAT REFORMATION IS NOT NECESSARILY SALVATION — that, indeed, reformation without godliness may bring a curse rather than a blessing. And it is not the history of the Jewish nation only which illustrates this principle. Look at the reaction which, in our own country, followed the Puritan Reformation. Again, there are not a few in our day who have lost all faith in the gospel of Christ, BUT WHO ARE FIRM RELIEVERS IS THE POWER OF SCIENCE AND MATERIAL CIVILIZATION TO ELEVATE AND BLESS MANKIND. Science may expel the devils of ignorance and superstition; it may "sweep" the house, and "garnish " it with information on a thousand subjects. But can it supply the house with a tenant strong enough to keep out the " seven worse devils " when they come? I do not know that ignorance is more dangerous than intellectual pride. I do not know that a superstitious idolatry is worse than an atheistic materialism. Nay, it may perhaps be more healthful for a man to worship the stars than to worship his own telescope, it is surely better to "feel after God" in the darkness, than to cease caring for Him in the light. Coming nearer home, MY TEXT ALSO TEACHES US A PRATICAL LESSON AS TO OUR DEALINGS WITH INDIVIDUALS WHOM WE ARE SEEKING TO SAVE AND BLESS. AS a parent you endeavour by earnest discipline to expel from your child the demons of disobedience, untruthfulness, self-will. You do well in thus sweeping the house; but this is not salvation. One deed done by your boy through the love of God or Christ or goodness, is worth all the sweeping and garnishing in the world; for it indicates that the house is tenanted. Take another case. Here, let us suppose, is a drunkard whom you are anxious to reform. He is ruining his body, breaking his wife's heart, injuring his family. You succeed in reforming him. This a matter for rejoicing. You have done well in sweeping the house from one vice; but that vice had its root in ungodliness, and if after his reformation the man continues ungodly, there is danger of that ungodliness breaking out in worse sins than ever. Finally, THE TEXT HAS A SOLEMN APPLICATION TO THE STATE OF OUR OWN SOULS. The grand question is: Are our souls inhabited by the principles of godliness? Is the spirit of God dwelling within us? Let us choose and cherish all things good. (T. C. Finlayson) Parallel Verses KJV: When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. |
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