Clean House

​We often think that reforming someone’s life or behavior is a worthy goal. After all, getting someone’s life clean and in order would be helpful, wouldn’t it? We may endeavor to clean up their act and get their house in order, but if nothing inhabits that house, old sins come flooding back with a vengeance.

Imagine this scenario: the worst person with the worst sinful behavior who is inhabited by the worst demons is delivered. The demons are cast out, their behavior changes, and they reform their ways. But Jesus tells us that without something (or Someone) else inhabiting their heart, all that’s been accomplished is cleaning up the house to invite even more demons, more sin, and more problems.

This is why it’s so important to make a distinction between reformation and regeneration. You may have heard it said that Jesus did not come to make bad men good. He came to give dead men life. You must be born again so that your heart may be inhabited by the Holy Spirit so that God may make His home there (see John 14:23 and Ephesians 3:14-17).

This won’t happen after getting your life in order. This only happens the moment you surrender your life and heart to God, inviting Him in to rule and reign. Only then will the Strongest Man make His home in your heart.