Ever notice how the empty abandoned house invites crime?
“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places seeking rest; and finding none he says, `I will return to my house from which I came.’
And when he comes he finds it swept and put in order.
Then he goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.”
Luke 11:24-26
Part of today’s gospel reading really hit home. So often in my life I have known what needed to go but not what to put in it’s place. Removing an “unclean spirit” (vice, sin, bad habit, addiction, thought pattern) would often be an end in and of itself. Unfortunately, what remains is a swept clean house left unguarded (spiritual, emotional, physical vacuum; stunted growth).
The space is fertile ground for more “unclean spirits” to move in because only on the surface was it removed. The roots remained to grow and become more fully entrenched. Any one familiar with twelve step programs knows removal of the “evil spirit” is only the beginning. The “house” must be filled with a clean spirit (character growth, virtue, wisdom, good works).
Today I will continue to clean my house of my unclean spirits and invite the Holy Spirit in to help me redecorate.
🙂