Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven. Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

People have faced criticism over the years for doing wholly good things. In one example, during the civil war, people who treated dark-skinned people well as peers were, in parts of this country, outcasts. They were called “N_ _ _ _ -lovers”. Now, people who say that skin color doesn’t matter, and all should be treated equally, are criticized in the name of “white privilege”; and privilege is given to “minorities” over people with white skin. Over this time, prevailing opinion in world leadership changed. But God’s Word has remained true and consistent throughout the ages. It says we are to love all, and we are all made in God’s image.

In my grandparents’ generation, smoking cigarettes was considered “cool”, but marijuana was illegal because of the brain damage it did. Now, people who smoke cigarettes are looked down upon due to the cancer it can cause, but smoking marijuana is seen by some as good and acceptable. The world took a 180 on this one too. God’s Word is clear again though, we are to honor God with our bodies. But more importantly, we are to seek after him with all our hearts. I believe there will be both smokers and non-smokers in heaven, all based on the condition of their hearts.

Inconsistency is rampant in the world we live in. It is more concerning when people do good things and are criticized for it. Jesus was casting out demons and this group of people, instead of praising God for this mute man’s freed tongue, tried to criticize Jesus. They insulted his heart. They said the good he was doing was from an evil source. How did Jesus respond? Did he defend himself or attack them by pointing out their sins? No! He responded with Biblical truth. God hates divided houses. Read what Jesus says here about corruption in God’s temple: “It is written, he said to them,  ‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭46‬) Taking something holy and utterly good and defiling it like God’s temple or misrepresenting God’s work in the lives of people he cares about, as evil, is an abhorrent practice.

Throughout high school, I lived literally in a divided house. My dad, my step-mom, and my baby sister, Grace, slept on one side of the house, and my younger brother and I were on the other side. Even more divisive was the relational separation that existed. I have since reconciled with both my dad and step-mom around this issue, and God has healed hearts, but it was brutal at the time and caused a lot of scars and pain for years after.

I think Jesus’ main points are: 1) a divided house WILL NOT STAND. A house divided is a defeated house. 2) if he does have this power to drive our demons, then … “the kingdom of God has come upon you.” This was the real reason they were against Jesus, they did not want to acknowledge his Lordship and have to repent and change their sinful hearts and behaviors.

Jesus is on a rescue mission to save, heal, speak truth, and redeem lost souls. Satan is on a destruction mission to kill, injure, lie and deceive, and cast off as utterly worthless the souls in this life. These two missions are polar opposite approaches — they are not congruent. And while some around Jesus were practicing division, Jesus was practicing multiplication. When we do God’s will he always MULTIPLIES THE IMPACT of our effort!

We must decide: will we follow Jesus and seek after him, or get swept away in the lies and deceit of this world and its shallow promises and destructive behaviors? There is no middle ground!

Lord, thank you for making the point so clearly that evil cannot do wholly good things, it is not in the nature of evil to do so. You are Lord of this world and my life. Place your hand on my life and purify my heart. Do in me what you will. I want to be a part of your multiplied goodness work and not focus on division and things that separate us. Teach me to stay close to your heart and to heal and restore in your name!