Jan 13 – New Thing!

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind” (Isaiah 65:17)

Once Lord Jesus came to the country of the Gadarenes, on the other side of the sea. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. (Mark 5:1-5)

Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. (Luke 8:30). In the Roman army, the term ‘Legion’ was used to refer to a unit of army of six thousand soldiers and horses. Romans also used this term to indicate huge numbers.

It is therefore clear, that there were thousands of demons residing within him. When the Lord chased them out of him, they entered into the herd of swine that was feeding near the mountain – they were about two thousand in number. And the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.

In that very moment, there was a great transformation in the life of that person, who had been possessed by demons. He who was naked was now clothed. He who was out of his mind, was now in his right mind (Mark 5:15). He was also seated at the feet of Jesus (Luke 8:35). Not only that, but our Lord made him into an evangelist. The Scripture tells us that he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marvelled (Mark 5:20).

When the Lord delivers someone, he is indeed delivered completely. And the person is made into a new creation. Just imagine how miserable his state would have been, if not for the encounter with Jesus! The demonic spirits which drowned the herd of two thousand swine into the sea, would have drowned him also into the sea. He would have been pushed into the eternal hell fire. When the Lord meets a person, He wonderfully changes the person into a vessel of honour.

Once you are changed into a new creation, you should not think about the former things. You should realize that you are indeed a new creation in Christ, and put on the joy and enthusiasm of that new creation.

Verse for further meditation: “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth…” (Isaiah 43:18,19)