This is another story taken from Jesus' contact with the devils called Legion; for there were many devils in the man. We find this contact in Matthew 8:28-34, Mark 5:1-17, and Luke 8:26-37. It is good to read each account for they are like pieces of a puzzle which give us a complete picture when put together.
But I look now in Matthew, the shortest account. We are not even given the name Legion in Matthew, but in verse 28 we find there were actually 2 men with devils, not only 1. Why was only 1 delivered?
Anyone can be attacked or used by devils, but why are some actually possessed? I do not know every way it can happen, but mostly a person is deceived into giving the evil spirits control in his/her life. This can happen a lot by repeated drug use or by getting drunk; we lose the ability to reason, and the devil takes over the “throne of leadership” within us.
The devil then tricks a person through lies and feelings, and they are trapped. We need God's power to get free.
Yet God gives us free choice, and some LIKE the condition they are in, and run from the Lord, instead. That's what happens with the 2nd man in Matthew. To read the 3 accounts, we see that the man with Legion ran to Jesus and knelt down, and begged Him for mercy. So even though possessed, something within the man wanted to be set free, which makes sense. The “runaway” man was in a miserable state, but he chose that misery over freedom in Christ.
In my experience, MOST are like the runaway man. They will not surrender to Jesus' Lordship in their lives. God has good things for them which are eternal, but they want to rule their own lives now.
Lucifer, who became Satan, also did not want God's authority to rule him. He rebelled, and eternal damnation awaits him. He tries to convince us to take part of his sin, but our reward will be as his!
God has good things in store for those who trust Him! We win, when we do things God's way!
Read I Corinthians 2:9
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