Few of us have ever met anyone as wild and violent as the man Jesus encountered in Gadara (Lk. 8:26-39). He was obviously under the control of a demonic power that had ripped him from society and had made him a violent, screaming maniac. Jesus delivered him from Satan's control, however, and returned him to society, sane and respectable.

While Satan undoubtedly still uses demon possession to express his hatred for God and mankind, he usually does so in less spectacular ways. For example, getting people to believe that we are nothing more than chance products of blind evolution is an idea that works very well for him today. Such a belief is attractive to many because it promises freedom from moral restraints and offers immediate gratification. But multitudes who start down the road of permissiveness are soon trapped in a lifestyle of enslaving addictions and shameless practices that rob them of self-respect, satisfaction, and hope. Essentially, Satan has them in his power, just as he had the maniac.

The good news for those trapped in sin is that Jesus Christ still delivers all who turn to Him. And the good news for those who have trusted Christ for deliverance is that we have a message of hope worth telling.  — Herbert Vander Lugt