Who's Power?

Now He as driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon came out, the man who had been mute, spoke and the crowds were amazed. But some of them said, "He drives demons out by Beelzebul, the ruler of demons!  And others, as a test were demanding of Him a sign from heaven.luke 11:-16

What sort of heart behaves like this? I have seen it many times. This heart lives throughout the centuries. When William Wordsworth was fighting to set the slaves free, he fought it for years in the parliament. A hardened heart that rails against that which is good and kind and lovely, all because it hates the light and loves the sin.

Last night I watched the Australian of the year awards here in my country. People from the communities, states and nation who have served our marginalised or made breakthroughs in medical endeavours are candidates. Yet each, I am sure, when they began they would have faced opposition and hard hearted community members when stood against goodness and change.

The crowd railed against Jesus because He set a man free from a demon. To make themselves feel better and able to reject this beautiful saviour, they accused Him of driving out demons by the power of Satan. Jesus only did good yet many stood against Him and finally had had enough and crucified Him all because they did not want to face their sin and hard hearts.

Jesus finishes His defence in verse 23 when He says: anyone who is not with Me, is against Me, anyone who does not gather with Me scatters. These people were not concerned with the lost or showing them the way to salvation, they wanted things to go on as they had before so that they did not have to change. When change threatens a howl arises and gnarled fingers grasp at the one who would rise about the crowd and say, "There is a better way, let's go there!" In fact they themselves were lost in greed and avarice.

Our challenge is, knowing human nature will we rise up and show the way to a better future, will we challenge the status quo? Will we be the light in the darkness? Amen!

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