I got the idea for this post from Ray Pritchard… in particular the phrase he used, “Apparently pigs meant more than people…”
From the text (CLICK HERE) a man was possessed by many demons. He couldn’t be bound or subdued… living in a graveyard… crying out all the time… cutting and bruising himself with stones. When this man saw Jesus he worshipped. Jesus commanded the demons to come out of the man and go into a heard of 2,000 pigs. The pigs ran down into the water and drowned. And that’s where things get interesting among the town’s people.
The man was healed by Jesus and his right mind restored to him. When the herdsmen saw what Jesus had done for the man, they rejoiced. NOT! They, and the towns people, were afraid. And get this… they begged Jesus to leave! They cared more about pigs than people… who Jesus was… or knowing him like the man in his right mind now did! I’m afraid we have the same perspective too often ourselves.
People love darkness more than light. They prefer staying in the “comfort” of their sin than the joy, peace, freedom, and contentment of Jesus’ presence in their life. Why? Because they don’t want to lose control… or at least what they perceive to be in their control. They don’t realize that they never have LESS control than when they are “in control.” People are afraid of what God will require of them… giving up something they love or don’t want to lose. In short they prefer their IDOLS to the True God!
Consider The Rich Young Ruler. He asked Jesus how to be saved. Jesus told him to sell all he had… give it to the poor… and follow Him. This young man went away sad. He chose earthly riches to eternal life… and he knew it. Pigs were more important than people to him… his money was more important than his eternal state! That is what is really at stake… eternity.
We would do well to test ourselves… our heart… to examine what is important to us… in the midst of all the varied pressures, hardships, and tests of life. Metaphorically speaking, are pigs more important than God to us? Do we prefer the status quo to the peace Jesus gives? Is our comfort more important than God being glorified? Is what we want more important than God’s will to us?
LISTEN! The ONLY way you’ll know your heart on this is if GOD REVEALS IT TO YOU! So pray as David did in Psalm 139:23-24…
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
How do we do that? Consider what Jesus said as recorded in Mark 6:31, “Because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
“Rest” is to be termed as Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”