The Demonic and Evil

Demon Possession: Fact or Fiction?

Many older folks remember the classic horror film, The Exorcist, that featured a young girl played by actress Linda Blair who became demon-possessed and turned into a hideous monster.

The Exorcist was released in 1973 and became one of the most popular horror films of all time. It was based upon the true story of a boy named Roland Doe (not his real name) who grew up in Mt. Rainier Washington in the 1940s and became demon-possessed after he dabbled in the occult.

Doe came from a family that had a history of being involved with the occult. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term, the occult encompasses such practices as astrology, magic, wicca (witchcraft), spiritism, necromancy, sorcery, shamanism, voodoo, satanism and kabbalah.

Doe admitted that his troubles began when he tried to contact his recently deceased grandmother via the Ouija board. Shortly thereafter, he began speaking in strange tongues; furniture began rearranging itself in his home and he began having nightmares. Eventually, Doe became violent and had to be restrained by chains to a bed. Even then, the chains didn't always hold him.

Though Doe was suspected of being afflicted with a rare and dangerous form of schizophrenia, drugs and treatments had no affect on him. Eventually, he was transferred to a Catholic hospital in St. Louis where a priest recognized that he was demon-possessed. The priest administered an exorcism, and after a lengthy struggle, the demon left Doe and he was delivered from evil.

Doe's account sounds similar to the biblical account of a demon-possessed man that Jesus Christ encountered and delivered. (Luke 8:26-39)  Like Doe, the man was violent and unpredictable. And like Doe, the man couldn't even be restrained by chains. When Christ asked the man his name, he answered Legion because he was possessed by a multitude of demons.

Certainly, not everyone who dabbles in the occult becomes demon-possessed. But those who willfully and even innocently get involved in the occult give Satan and his demons a legal right to invade their lives. And they will always take advantage of the opportunity when it presents itself.

And so, if you've ever visited a psychic or a fortune-teller, you've exposed yourself to the demonic. If you've ever gotten involved with eastern mysticism and its religious practices such as astral travel, visualization, chanting, transcendental meditation or tantric yoga, you've exposed yourself to the demonic. And if you've ever taken hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD or PCP, you've exposed yourself to the demonic.

Here's God's warning to those who practice the occult: "I will set my face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute themselves by following them, and I will cut them off from their people." (Leviticus 20:6) 

And here's a warning He issued to the ancient Jews: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the Lord your God." (Deuteronomy 18:10-13)

What happens when people make contact with the demonic? In some cases, they can become possessed. But in most cases, they come under demonic influence that manifests in hatred of and rebellion against authority; hostility to those who believe in God--especially Christians and Jews--and an inflated sense of self-worth. 

Those who make contact with the demonic are also under a curse. They have no protection from God and are susceptible to misfortune, calamity and sudden death. If you've ever wondered why some people suffer extreme misfortune and die at a young age, wonder no more.

The antidote is repentance from sin and a life committed to Jesus Christ. It's not complicated. If you confess your sins to Jesus Christ and ask Him to become your Lord and Savior, He'll remove every curse from you and bless you with eternal life. You can bank on that.

Here's what the Bible says: "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, 'Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.' For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call who call on him, for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" (Romans 10:9-13)

Don't wait until tomorrow. Do it now because tomorrow may be too late.