CHANCE
ENCOUNTERS!
Luke
8:26-27
26
And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against
Galilee.
27
And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man,
which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house,
but in the tombs.
Charles “Tremendous” Jones once said that “You are
the same today as you’ll be in five years except for two things: the books you
read and the people you meet.” In our text we see a man, and Luke says he was a
“certain” man, who had been exactly the same for a long time. I don’t think he
was a reader of books but he had encountered something or someone who had
changed his life for evil. He was about to encounter someone who would change
his life or good!
Jesus was a man of purpose and vision. This journey
was launched during a calm sea so He took a nap in the boat. Luke says that a
storm “came down” and caused a great wind. I wonder from where did the storm
come down? Could it be that the evil one was trying to interrupt the rescue of
the man in the graveyard? Can demons create a storm? I have no sure answer for
that but I do have one more question. If Jesus is in control of the weather,
why would He rebuke a storm that He created?
The devil-filled
man had many encounters before. Some had tried to bind him with ropes
and chains but his demon strength broke them all. He was miserable and none
could give him any comfort. Immediately Jesus emerges from the boat and this
man’s demons recognize him for who He is. Jesus released this tormented man and
when the townspeople came to see what had happened – they found the man, out of
whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in
his right mind: and they were afraid.
Merriam
– Webster defines “chance” as “something that happens without
apparent cause.” You may encounter many people today by chance. Some may be
important and others may seem to be insignificant but if you encounter Jesus
your life will never be the same!
Luke
8:38-39
38
Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be
with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,
39
Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee.
And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things
Jesus had done unto him.
Lord,
let me publish throughout the whole city the great things you have done for me!
AMEN
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