"The Most Hopeless Among Us?"

   Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.
   And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him.
   And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.
   But when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped Him.
   And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me."
   For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!"
   Then He asked him, "What is your name?" And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many."
   And he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.
   Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountain.
   And all the demons begged Him, saying, "Send us to the swine, that we may enter them."
   And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.
   Now those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened.
   Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.
   And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine.
   Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.
   And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him.
   However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you."
   And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for Him; and all marveled. Mark 5:1-20

Every time I read this section of the word it reminds me of one of the most well know and quoted verses in the Bible ... 2 Corinthians 5:17 ... "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." I love that that is exactly what happened for this guy. He went from and an old useless tormented existence to a brand new life filled with both the promises and purposes of God. He went from his lonely tormented existence to 'sitting and clothed and in his right mind.' A transformed life! He received a whole new life, just that quick, because of Jesus' compassion for him.

In the eyes of the men that had known him, he was considered to far gone to deal with any longer. He was considered beyond help and left to dwell alone in amongst the tombs. But here is the thing that we all need to remember, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 With Christ all things are possible no matter what or who it is! Jesus Christ can take even the most 'hopeless' amongst us and transform a life just that quick!

No one ... no matter what it looks like in the natural ... is beyond a transformed life in Christ! Why? Because He has enough love and compassion for them to get it done! One encounter with Him is all it takes!