“They reached the country of the Gerasenes on the other side of the lake, and no sooner had He left the boat than a man with an unclean spirit came out from the tombs towards Him. The man lived in the tombs and no one could secure him anymore, even with a chain; because he had often been secured with fetters and chains but had snapped the chains and broken the fetters, and no one had the strength to control him.
All night and all day, among the tombs and in the mountains, he would howl and gash himself with stones. Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and fell at His feet and shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear by God you will not torture me–for Jesus had been saying to him “Come out of the man, unclean spirit.” What is your name? Jesus asked. “My name is legion,” he answered, “for there are many of us.” And he begged Him earnestly not to send them out of the district. Now there was there on the mountainside a great herd of pigs feeding, and the unclean spirits begged Him, “Send us to the pigs; let us go into them”, So He gave them leave, with that, the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs, and the herd of about two thousand pigs charged down the cliff into the lake, and they were drowned.
The swineherds ran off and told their story in the town and in the country round about, and the people came to see what had really happened. they came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his full senses–the very man who had had the legion in him before–and they were afraid. And those who had witnessed it reported what had happened to the demoniac and what had become of the pigs. Then they began to implore Jesus to leave the neighborhood. As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed begged to be allowed to stay with Him. Jesus would not let him but said to him, “go home to your people and tell them all that the Lord in His mercy has done for you.” So the man went off and proceeded to spread throughout the Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.” (Mark 5:1-20)
This is the story of a wrecked life that God put back together for His glory. Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee specifically to set this man free. Why? For one thing, His great love for the man’s situation and also He knew that this man could be transformed into a thing of beauty that would show His glory to all those around him. His heart went out to not only this man, but to everyone in the area.
He was the town lunatic. The one nobody wanted to be around. Can you imagine hearing screams and howls all hours of the night? He must have driven his neighbors crazy! Top that off with his running around naked everywhere he went; filthy and bloody from all the cuts he inflicted on himself. What a sight he must have been! He was considered beyond redemption. Beyond repair. But Jesus knew differently…
As soon as Jesus stepped out of the boat and he caught sight of Him, he ran towards Him. Legion was terrified because he knew they had to leave. God had enough of them tormenting this man. He was set free, cleaned up and clothed. His mind returned to him and he was able to see Jesus’ love clearly. And boy did he fall in love with the Lord! He begged Him to let him go with Him. But God knew that he had a powerful testimony that would bring many people to Him. So He told him to stay and tell of all the things God had done for Him. The Bible says he went all over the Decapolis area telling anyone who would listen what God had done for him.
God looked beyond the wreckage of his life. He looked beyond the filth of his body and his mind. He looked past the foulness of his situation. He looked at the potential of his life. He saw a beautiful life polished to perfection that would bring Him glory and bring others into His realm of love. That is just the way He looks at every person. He always looks past our messy lives. Our filthy sin-stained lives and evil attitudes. He looks at our potential to glorify Him. If we choose to let Him into our lives through Jesus Christ, He is faithful to complete the work He started in us.
We all know at least one car guy right? The guy who sees a broken down rust-bucket of a car that everyone else considers a pile of junk. This guy looks at the lines of the car, and style and sees the potential for a real thing of beauty. To others, your life may look and even be hopeless in their estimation. But God looks at you with different eyes. He looks at you with the eyes of faith. He looks at the finished work of your life. He knows you really are a thing of beauty…
Don’t know Him? You can meet Him today. Give Him your heart, your life, and your hopeless situation. When you do, He will begin to change your world like you have never imagined. Click on the link below to meet Jesus…
Blessings everyone…
From the Heart of God... 
Reblogged this on Stones of Fire Ministries.
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