Matthew 8:16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

Why is it that so many believe in demon possession but refuse to believe in being possessed of God? Why is it easier to believe in being possessed of evil than to be possessed of love? People have no problem saying “The devil made me do it.” They choke at the idea of “God did it.”

Jeremiah 22:21-22 I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear. This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not my voice. The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness.

I am neither ashamed nor confused. I am forgiven. Is that it, are we all sinners where the differences in state of mind exist solely because of forgiveness? I understand the power of forgiveness on a personal level but I might have overlooked its power when I did not have it.

What if all of us were possessed by shame and confusion? We who have found forgiveness have been set free from this byproduct of sin. I do know sin has consequences and in my former state I remember saying “Why is this happening to me?” I was confused as to the cause, sin.

Perhaps we do not preach the power of forgiveness often enough or with enough clarity to overcome their confusion. We make it clear that the ultimate consequences of sin is death but fail to make it clear about the benefits of forgiveness that removes shame and confusion.

Perhaps that is because it is only a temporary state of mind.

Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.

Theos was appropriated by Jews and retained by Christians to denote “the one true God.” In the Sept. theos translates (with few exceptions) the Hebrew words Elohim and Jehovah, the former indicating His power and preeminence, the latter His unoriginated, immutable, eternal and self-sustained existence. [Source; Vine’s Expository Dictionary of NT Words]

The Hebrew separated God into two categories, first what He does, and secondly who He is apart from man. I find it interesting that the Jews and Christians both appropriated a Greek word which in meaning and intent was a pagan word used to indicate polytheistic beliefs. It was used to indicate anything worshipped, including idols.

Why would believers include our one true God in and amongst all these false gods?

My understanding is found in a box of stuffed animals all made to look like the one live kitten placed in the box with them. The live kitten will be animated and interact with you while the stuffed animals, while cute, warm and huggable, will not play with you.

You cannot separate who God is from what He does. A god who does not interact with His creation is not God. That would be like buying a really expensive car “as is” with no warranty or manufacturer to stand behind the product being sold. You should not buy it.

That is exactly what every religion does where the god they worship does not present Himself in power and presence. They picked the stuffed animal rather than the live one.

Sadly the salesman will only point at the live kitten and warn you, “It bites and scratches. You have to feed it and tend to its needs. It will take away time from your life.”

That is true, but He is the only one in the box that can love you.