“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”
Luke 11:24–26, ESV
Without God, we are left empty, and a void lies open in us that makes room for other things. Jesus teaches the danger of one who is open for demonic possession and how much more at risk they are left once freed from the bondage of possession if there is nothing that fills the space in their nature that the demon once possessed. If one is freed from the bondage of sin and death and returns to the life they once led prior to the reception of that freedom, they are at risk of falling deeper into sin and despair. How much more so is one at risk if they are to be freed from possession and return to the life they had prior to the possession? Sadly, there are those that will know the deliverance that only Christ can offer and return to the life that they had prior to being freed. How often, however, are children baptized and then left on their own? Baptism is a washing and renewal, and for any who are baptized, we are not to leave them on their own and to their own devices when it comes to raising them up in the faith. Yet, we see this often as many treat this gift as something done as a mere practice and ceremony. What do people believe they receive when they come to the waters? A mere washing? No, it is the adoption of a child into the family of God and a washing and renewal of the person. A washing away of the original sin that clings to us all and a renewal of the person, but like one previously possessed, we often sweep the room clean only to leave it open to invite in an even greater attack from the evil one. When we teach and raise up people into the Christian faith, we are fighting a great spiritual battle, and when we fail to offer up a proper defense, we leave them vulnerable to the attacks of the evil one. Let us pray against this and seek to be a light for all as children of God.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.