Life confronts us with tests and trials. Do we pass the trials with wisdom gained and stories to share? Or are we defeated and continue on the path led by the powers of sin and Satan? As a child, I loved watching cops’ and robbers’ stories, especially when the good guys win. I looked forward to the end of the story when the hero prevails. I always wanted to be the good guy. Yet, the reality in life is that we are not always the good guy. Often we just might be the villain. When I yield to sin, Satan can easily get a foothold in my life by cultivating sinful practices. We can never underestimate the destructive power of Satan. As Christians, our greatest danger is the unbelief in our hearts. Our greatest problems are within us, not around us. Unbelief causes fear, and fear will make you doubt and question Jesus. Satan is a thief whose ultimate purpose is to destroy. (John 10:10) When I ponder on this, I am determined to cling to Jesus much more because He can break all the chains and set me free to share and disciple other believers.

There is a story in Mark 5:1-20 about the demon-possessed man who was healed by Jesus. This man’s life was out of control and filled with many demons. Oh, how I have been there in the past. It is a painful, self-destructive, and most powerless place to be. This place is where satan has control because we are not yielding to sin. It is also where Satan is at his best in the lives of unbelievers, “sons of disobedience”, (Eph. 2:1-3). Believers do not want to be in the place of yielding to sin. Satan is subtle and before you know it he begins stealing your life. Your prayer time is stolen, your bible is not read purposely, your tithes are stolen, and love is stolen. Wow, what an egregious place to be. Once satan has you all bound up in chains, one sin after another, you’re no longer fit for use to the body of Christ. We surely do not have to remain in such a state. Jesus can confront the demons just as He did with the demon-possessed man. We must have a willing heart. We must choose. Jesus delivered this man. Satan tried to destroy this man, but Jesus delivered him. By the power of His Word, He cast out the demons and set the man free. This miracle was done in front of a Christ-rejecting crowd, maybe as a lesson or warnings against the powers of sin and satan. If you were in this crowd, how would you respond? Would you believe in Jesus or reject him? If you are a believer would you share this miracle with the world, and in mentoring disciples? The man whom Jesus healed wanted to travel with Jesus, but Jesus told him to go home and share what great thing Jesus did for him. Do we share the news of salvation where we go? Do we share our testimonies and blessings with those we come in contact? Are we changing the world for good? This is a question I often ask myself. Am I doing enough with building relationships to encourage others to a better life built on godly principles? Or am I too busy keeping my head above waters and not set on the world.

Let’s talk about the villain. Jesus had entered a pagan country. It was a place off-limit for law-abiding Jews. This is a land full of “villains” as we see in the demonic man. This man is naked and possessed by many demons, just as we are before coming to accept Jesus as Savior. Jesus reached out to the man and heals him. He was a naked, demon-possessed man restored to new life which should remind us of who we were before salvation. This story challenges me to ask am I prepared to go to unknown territories to befriend/share Christ, and help the outcast? Can such people be restored, forgiven, and sing God’s praises as did the demoniac man? Yes, of course. I ask you, how prepared are we to overcome prejudice and fear in getting alongside the unsaved, homeless, and diseased? Am I stand-offish? How may I reach the people? These are all questions I contemplate and take before the LORD in prayer. I will rather be a witness for Christ winning and mentoring souls as I trust Him to guide and lead me. How do we as believers care for the unsaved? Do we have the compassion as Jesus does to draw others to the Truth, to be set free from the chains of bondage, (sin)? Do we even have genuine love and concern? I leave you to ponder.

Upon healing the demonic man, Jesus tells him to spread the good news among his own people. When you were first saved, do you remember sharing the testimony experience with those close to you? I do. I was excited, zealous, and overflowing with joy. This is the passion needed every day by believers. The Christian life is not to imitate the life of the unsaved (villains) people around us. We think and act differently. We have a changed mind. Our whole outlook is changed when we trust Christ, including our values, goals, and interpretation of life. We no longer play the part of the villain such as being vain in thinking and lacking spiritual wisdom. We have received/believed the truth; we have received the life; therefore we will walk in the way and the truth, and not walk after the examples of the unsaved world. As Christians we have not just changed our minds, we have changed our citizenship as well. We belong to God’s new creation in Christ and are no longer controlled by the world. So I ask you are you walking as a new creation able to mentor others or are you still the villain seeking everything of the world you may get? Mentor or villain, you choose.

5 This is what the Lord says:

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. 7 But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:5-8 (CSB)