That was an excerpt from Lincoln’s famous speech after receiving the nomination in Illinois to run as the candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1858. And there is much one could unpack and chew on from that one paragraph alone. He obviously was referring to a well-known passage and statement made by Jesus in several of the gospels. I was actually reading in the gospel of Luke yesterday morning and came across that verse which made me think of Lincoln’s use of it. Perhaps you would like to read it yourself there in chapter 11. Given what I have written about the past few days, I found myself drawn once again, to another instance of Jesus healing a physical ailment that had a spiritual cause.
Jesus, we read there, was ‘casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, the mute spoke, and the multitude marveled’. (14)
There were some in attendance that suggested, if not accused outright, “He casts out demons by ‘Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons”. (15)
We then read there in vs. 17 that Jesus, “knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.”
While I don’t want to delve off into all the political and social ills that Lincoln’s statements were addressing back then, (and also have significant relevance for us today), it’s hard to ignore a few points that stand out. I really do believe that so much that unfolds and takes place in our ‘natural world’ is very much a ‘shadow’ or ‘sign’ of what is taking place in the spiritual world. Our country has certainly always had its ‘differences’ of thought and political views and such. I would think that most rational people today can see how sharply divided we have become nationally on so many levels as well. We are a polarized nation no doubt and it seems to becoming even more defined and sharp to the point you wonder if we are on the brink of another ‘civil war’ of sorts.
Lincoln was simply reaffirming the obvious which Jesus stated centuries earlier- a divided house will fall. Period. Not ‘maybe’ or ‘has a chance of falling’; but it will collapse. Just a few of the phrases from Lincolns’ statement jumped out at me...the first one referring to the house that falls. I immediately thought of Jesus’s statement in Matt. 7:27 about another house that collapsed. He was talking about people who ‘hear the word but don’t do it’ are likened to a foolish man who built his house on sand and when the floods came (not ‘if’ but when) and beat against the house it was unable to withstand the force and was simply destroyed. Luke adds that the ‘ruin of that house was great.’ (6:49)
Jesus warns us in Matt. 24 that another ‘flood’ is coming, just as it did in the days of Noah. It won’t be a natural flood though, but make no mistake about it, it is not only coming, it is here now. Anyone else find it noteworthy how Isaiah referred to the ‘enemy coming in like a flood’? (59:19) And who is our ‘enemy’? (1 Pet. 5:8)
Going back to the two houses that Jesus used to illustrate the difference between the wise and the foolish, both houses were subject to the same destructive ‘flood’; and the one that withstood the onslaught was the one built on the ‘rock’ which He likened to as a ‘wise man’ who when he ‘hears the sayings of Jesus, does them.’
The other noteworthy statement made by Lincoln dealt with the issue of slavery, of course. What a keen observation he makes in saying that the government of that day cannot remain ‘half slave and half free’. I immediately thought of the emphatic statement Jesus made in John 8:34 where He states that ‘whoever commits sin is a slave to sin, and a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.” If you are up for jotting down a few extra verses, look back a few places there in John, vs. 31, where Jesus said “IF...you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed!” Reminds me where he addresses this again in 15:4-7 about us ‘abiding in Him and His word abiding in us”. Which then points me to this matter-of-fact statement: “Whoever abides in Him does not sin.” (1 John 3:6)
When you come across the term ‘slave’, it is hard to not also associate it with the word ‘master’. A slave, has a ‘master’. And what does Jesus teach us about ‘serving two masters’? He said it cannot be done...you will either love and be loyal to one and hate the other, or, visa versa. (Matt. 6:24; Luke 16:13). Jesus told us that ‘IF...we love Him, we’ll do what He says.” (John 14:15). But if you continue to sin, well, you do have a ‘master’ but it is Not Jesus. Want to guess who it is? Jesus came to bring us truth that we might be set free. (John 8:32,36)
Now...back to our original passage in Luke 11 where Jesus is casting out demons and talking about a divided house and the interesting reference to ‘Beelzebub’. He is of course referring to Satan. I believe I mentioned this term the other day and the actual meaning of that title or word is ‘lord of the flies’. I made use of it in regards to how a dead carcass draws flies...lots of flies, not to mention buzzards. My post yesterday was having to do with that passage found in Matt. 12 where Jesus spoke of what happens when an ‘unclean spirit goes out of a man’. If you look further down in our passage here in Luke 11, you will see the same account in vs. 24-26. Just make note of the unclean spirit’s comment regarding his intent when wanting to find a place to rest – “I will return to my house from which I came.” (24). This unclean spirit refers to the man he was removed from as a ‘house’.
So going back to Lincoln’s assessment, echoing the words of Jesus, the ‘divided house will either be all ‘one thing or another’. The country, he was alluding to, will either be ‘all slave or all free’. Sort of like what Jesus said about a tree will either bear good fruit or bad fruit...and that a bad tree cannot bear good fruit nor can a good tree bear bad fruit...so either make the tree good...or bad. (Matt. 12:33; 7:17-20)
Interestingly, James kind of addresses the same issue about those who profess to be in the faith...pointing out their double-mindedness ...where both ‘salt water and fresh water’ are coming from the same spring...as he mentions how the folks want to ‘bless God and curse their brother’ in the same breath. It creates a problem. James just out and out calls them ‘adulterers’ in 4:4. He then exhorts them in that same chapter to ‘submit to God and resist the devil’ and how they better ‘purify their hearts, you double-minded’. (vs 8)
Does anyone else notice this theme that continues to arise throughout the bible? From Day One, God separated the light from the darkness. The word ‘church’ comes from a Greek word, (ekklesia) which means an assembly of ‘called out ones’. We know Peter reminds us that we have been ‘called out of darkness’. (1 Pet. 2:9) Yet sadly, many, if not most, love and choose the darkness over the light. (John 3:19-20)
So while the idea as to whether we can have ‘unclean spirits’ working in us can be troublesome and unsettling, just know this...as darkness can be synonymous with ‘death’... we know ‘death attracts flies’. Wherever there is darkness, it serves as a canopy for the ‘powers of darkness’. Sin brings death. If we eat off that ‘tree of flesh’, we will surely die. (Gen. 2:17; Rom. 8:13). Hence, the reason Jesus did not say to ‘go and try and sin less or less frequently’, rather, He commands us to ‘sin no more’. But that will not happen as a result of your own self-control, efforts, and determination. You are going to have to ‘abide’ in Him...or else...you will ‘wither up, be gathered up, and tossed into a fire’. (John 15:6). Lots to chew on, I know. Hope you come back tomorrow.
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