Luke 11:24-26 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he said… A young man enters upon life in all the confidence of youth, and passion, and strength. He is borne along by the currents of the world, and he soon drinks deep into its polluted joy. First a spirit of gaiety, and then a spirit of uncleanness takes possession of his heart — and his soul, for awhile, is spell-bound by the fascination of the world, and he wraps himself in his forbidden pleasures. Presently it pleases God to arrest that young man. He is laid on a bed of sickness, and he eats of his own bitter sowing. He is brought very low in shame, and wretchedness, and remorse — he loathes his former courses — he turns from them with disgust — and he makes his resolutions, and he records his vows — the spirit that is in him is cast out, and the young man rises from his trouble a reformed character. Meanwhile, where is the evil spirit? Is he gone? For a little time he appears to let him alone; but all the while he is but preparing himself for another temptation and a fiercer assault. He comes and he sees that young man abhorring the sins of his youth; but uninfluenced by grace — untouched by the love of God; he sees his heart silent in prayer, and his mind is still pointing to the world. And the evil spirit brings to bear upon that man a new and more powerful seduction. He is no longer to him the tempter to some sinful gratification; but he enters into him a spirit of mercenary calculation — he becomes a man cold, secular, aspiring. Money, politics, greatness, argument, scepticism, occupy his mind — he is now for establishment and reputation — he grasps and he holds the world — he is not immoral, he is a formalist — he is not a profligate, he is covetous, Christless — his heart is further off from God than ever it was — he has not commenced anew — he feels no sins — he is a bitter censor of other men — he grows prejudiced — he is a practical infidel — he is sealed in his self-confidences — "and the last state of that man is worse than the first." (J. Vaughan, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. |
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