If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. Mark 3:25 (NRSV)
Before this verse, Jesus is pursued by a large crowd who have witnessed his healing power. Wherever Jesus went, evil spirits—doing what the religious leaders would not—cried out, "You are the Son of God." The leaders were so furious that Jesus cast out demons and sought to find anything that would create trouble for him that they insisted he must be in league with Satan.
"I wonder if Jesus was amused, bewildered, or disappointed—maybe all three—by their accusations. Nevertheless, we know his response, "If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come." (Mk. 3:25-26) In other words, how would it serve Satan to remove his minions from a place where he already has established himself–it wouldn't.
Jesus goes on to warn the leaders against the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit–attributing what is evil to God. God is compassion, truth, love, and purity, and thus cannot be the polar opposite. The leaders understood this; of course, they were committed followers of the God of Israel. However, they failed to grasp what the evil spirits did, that Jesus is the Son of God. The Father is God, Jesus is God, and the Holy Spirit is God; these three are one.
There is a secondary warning in Matthew's telling of the same story. "When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation." (Mt. 12:43-45)
By this, we understand that there is no such thing as half a house or a middle ground. There is either the undivided house where God resides or where Satan resides–there are no empty houses. There can't be an upstairs tenant with a different downstairs tenant or a side-by-side arrangement; it's one or the other. Once we dismiss the Holy Spirit from our lives, we deny what God has done for us; Satan is waiting on the doorstep with his minions, moving in before the door has a chance to close.
We are imperfect people who are saved by God's grace. We are flawed and messed up, and we aren't always the people God would like us to be. That's different; it doesn't mean God moves out, leaving the house vacant every time we sin. If that were the case, a Mayflower movers' truck would be parked constantly at our curb–or perhaps a storage unit parked in the drive. No, he loves and forgives us. What I'm saying is when we walk away from God, denying his power to save, we're on spiritually dangerous ground.
Heavenly Father, we are grateful for your unwavering love, the of your Son that heals our broken souls, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Strengthen our hearts to recognize and follow your will, and grant us the wisdom to discern your truth amidst life's challenges. May we remain united in spirit, standing firm in our faith, and ever mindful of your boundless grace and forgiveness. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
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