The Cage

^{All the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them, for they were very much afraid. Then he entered into the boat and returned.} ^{Luke 8:37} (WEB)

“…too afraid to leave my cage.”

Have you ever felt that way about your life? Have you ever been trapped in a cage of your own design, and you felt that you would never be free? Whether someone is living without Christ or a believer who is stuck in a habitual sin, the resolution is nearer than you may believe.

Do you feel too afraid to let go and get help?

Several years ago, I accidentally became locked in a room in a building, or so I thought. There is such an odd feeling of panic and embarrassment that comes over you in a situation like that. I was totally alone in the building. I had my cell phone, but it would be a while before anyone could get to me and let me out. Fortunately, very few moments passed by before I discovered a way out of my little self-imposed prison. There was an easy and sure way out but until I saw it, I was stuck.

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Three of the Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark and Luke tell the story of a man that Jesus freed from a Legion of demons. Please read the account in Luke. It’s a great story of how Jesus freed this pitiful soul. Luke 8:26-39

But the focus of our study is at the end of the story. The demon possessed man surely wanted to be free. Jesus wanted to heal him. People can be freed from any cage of sin.

The challenge is that once someone sees the way out, they have to choose the One Way out.

In regards, to habitual sin in the life of a believer or unbelief in the life of a skeptic, that freedom is Jesus.

Now for the unbelievable part of the story. The townspeople who had seen how violent and uncontrollable the man was in his possession, also had a front row seat to his healing. They watched the Savior deliver this man from his tortuous life, and yet they told Jesus to leave.

So, this is where you need to ask an important question. “Am I at the point of the man who desperately wants Jesus to set Him free?”

Or are you like the townspeople? They were more focused on the upheaval caused by Jesus changing the status quo than marveling at the wonderful miracle healing that no one else could provide.

Are you asking Him to leave you alone?

Even if you aren’t exactly like those people, maybe you admire Jesus as a good man, but like them, you aren’t willing to give up a single thing to be free.

In other words, you would rather hold on to the familiarity of your sinful cage than to let Jesus set you free.

What is it that you are doggedly holding onto? If you are a born-again follower of Christ, you know in your heart that you need to let go of your cage and just walk out. Jesus is holding the door open for you. There are so many things that injure our souls and rob us of life, health and joy. Most importantly, our sin robs us of a right relationship with God.

Maybe your cage is gluttony or money. Maybe it’s addiction or career. Could it be marital infidelity or apathy? Are you an abusive person to those who love you? Do you have secrets that need to be revealed? Jesus can set you free. He has set me free, so I know it can happen for anyone who obeys this truth:

Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1 (WEB)

For those who have yet to be redeemed by God’s love and grace there is hope for you, too. You don’t have to clean up first. The poor demon possessed man was more than a mess. We know from the scripture that he cut himself regularly. He probably was covered in wounds and sores. You can imagine that he smelled bad and was in total, physical disarray.

Worse than that, he had to come to Jesus in the stench of his sin. Don’t think that he was an innocent victim of the demons. He was a sinner, like we all are. His self indulgences, whatever they were, made him an easy mark for Satan.

But it was that awful desperation and vile life that made Him the perfect candidate to receive the redeeming love of Jesus. Psalm 51:16-17

I know it’s not easy to turn our back on a sinful lifestyle. For some, the human cost may be very high. If you are living a secret lifestyle, the revelation of your sin may cost you relationships, money or shame. You may have to make amends to people, and let’s face it, admission of guilt can kill your pride. You have to answer the question. You are on one side or the other. Do you want the freedom that Jesus offers? Or are you asking Him to leave you alone? Making the decision to be free is hard. But that’s exactly what you need to do. John 8:34-35