St Matthew, Chapter 12, verses: 43 - 44, The Unoccupied House: The Unclean Spirit Leaves.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The sign of Jonas) Part 4. 

The Pharisees have heard the evidence against them.  They have heard of the witnesses that will rise to testify against them.  Their fate is sealed.  Their destiny foretold.  Christ still offers them the opportunity to repent.  He still reaches out a hand and opens a door for them to enter into to escape damnation.  But they refuse.  They cling to their desire for power.  They hold to their roles of authority and they listen to the whisperings of the demons that counsel them to their destruction.

Christ tells a parable, his first.  He says, "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he roams through dry places in search of rest, and finds none.  Then he says, 'I will return to my house which I left'; and when he has come to it, he finds the place unoccupied, swept and decorated."    

The unclean spirits have claimed the Pharisees.  They own the house.  They live in them.  They know them.  For they have lived with them for many years.  And with them they have found rest.  Rest, that they can perform the evil that they do.  Rest, that they can recruit others to do evil in their names.  Rest, that they can challenge any who may come against them to cast them out.  For the heart is the resting place for those who do evil.  Darkness is the light that they live by.  Hatred is the doctrine that they practice against those who would believe in Christ. 

And Christ tells the Pharisees this parable of the unclean spirits.  He speaks to them in riddles that they may not understand the truth of what he speaks.  He speaks to the unclean spirits that lie within them that they may know that he is the Messiah.  For the unclean spirits have made their home in the Pharisees.  Even when they leave they return and find the home unoccupied, swept and cleaned as if waiting for a new occupant.  But they are the owners of the home and no others have come in.  The Pharisees had a vacancy.  They were without any other spirits.  And the Holy Spirit does not reside in them.

Is your house unoccupied, swept and clean, waiting for someone to come in?  Will unclean spirits make you their home or will you welcome the Holy Spirit?  Do you have a vacancy sign advertising your house or is it already occupied?  Christ seeks to come in.  He seek to live with you.  He seeks to know you.  He seeks to love you.  But, how can he, if you do not let him in?  How can he, if your house is already occupied?  There are only two occupants.  One does not live with the other.  Which do you prefer in your house?  Which do you prefer to guide your life?  Which do you prefer to counsel with?  Which do you prefer to stand with you on the day of judgment when the witnesses are brought before you?  Will it be the unclean spirits of Satan?  Or will it be the Holy Spirit of Christ?  The choice is yours.  You cannot stay unoccupied for long for you live in an unclean world and it will take hold of you.  Make your choice.  Seek the Holy occupant and open the door to Christ.

St Matthew, Chapter 11, verse: 28, The Call for Rest.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Jesus draws men gently to himself) Part 3. 

And now we are given the call to rest.  Christ our Lord and Savior calls us to himself that we may rest.  He calls all who are burdened.  He calls all who labor.  He calls all who are worried.  He calls all.  Some will heed his call.  Others will hear but not follow.  Still others will turn away from his call and accept the ways of the world as their calling.  But Christ, in the name of the Father calls all his children to himself.  For he is one with the Father.  He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and ruler of the universe.  He calls all to rest.

Christ says to the disciples and the crowd,  "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest."   For he is the origin of rest.  He satisfies all our needs.  He provides for all our wants.  He protects from all harm.  He guides our path through the tricks and traps of the world.  Yet we do not know him.  We do not seek him.  We do not live with him because we are blinded from his existence by the ways of the world.  Come to me, he says.  Yet, we go in the other direction, until we need something that we cannot provide.  We go in the other direction, until we run against a brick wall that causes us to see that we cannot proceed without his help.  We go in the other direction, because we are pulled by the tricks of the world that play on our passions.

We labor in this world thinking that we are in control.  We follow the instructions of the world believing that we will succeed and be eternally happy with the outcome, only to find out that we were deceived.  Our parents have been taught and therefore teach us to go to the right school, socialize with the right friends, marry the right woman, get the right job, have the right kids, make enough money, plan the right retirement and we will live a happy life.  These are the precepts that are passed down by the world we live in.  The world does not teach us to seek Christ.  The world does not teach us to live by his precepts.  The world does not teach us to build our treasures in heaven and not on earth.  The world does not teach us to seek the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to be our guide through life.  In fact the world teaches just the opposite.

Christ says come, and he will give us rest.  Do you seek rest or do you seek more money, more cars, more clothes, more fame, more glory, more lust, more action in the world?  When you get weary of the world, Christ awaits you.  When you wake up from the world, Christ calls to you.  When you hit your bottom in the world, Christ will reach down and lift you up.  But even more, when you want to know true peace in this world, go to him.  Go to him, remain with him and in him.  For He is one with the Father, as you will be, one with him.  For you in Him, there will be no desire for sin.  For you in Him there will be no need for this world.  For you in Him, there will be no anger, no fear, no doubt, no lust.  For you in Him, there will only be love. 

Will you become one with Christ?  He will rearrange all eternity to create a path just for you.  He will open a dream of possibilities you have never considered or imagined.  He will provide guidance through the Holy Spirit that will open the doors to his riches that will overwhelm you with joy.  And he will demonstrate to you his love for all eternity.  The world will scorn you.  The world will scoff you.  The world will isolate you.  The world will pressure you to forsake Him.  But once you know Him you can never for sake Him.  For He will do all for you, if you just open your heart to Him.  Come, all who are burdened and heavy ladened, He will give you rest.