Matthew 7:22-23: “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

In these verses it’s not that these people were lying about what they did while on earth. Many can prophesy and speak on God’s behalf; they can have faith and cast out a demon with prayer and do other good works too.

I believe in those verses they told the truth to the Lord when being judged; I don’t believe they could have lied to Him during that time. But you might ask, why would they be punished for doing some good things?

Imagine healing someone and then later telling them (or not warning them) that disobedience to Jesus is allowed to be practiced. What would that do to that person you just healed? If we read Jesus’ parable on this exact hypothetical, we can find the answer. Read below, please.

Matthew 12:43-45: “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.”

When an actual demon is cast out of someone, we see that it goes about looking for rest or another host to dwell in. This spirit that was cast out returns to the same person’s body. It says that the spirit finds the same person’s house (body) he just left, empty, swept, and garnished or decorated.

Now we have to ask, why would the person’s body be referenced as an empty house? Didn’t he just kick someone out of it for being an intruder? Wouldn’t there at least be a lock on it of some sort or an attendee? It’s said it’s empty, as in uninhabited.

Interestingly, Jesus references our bodies as somewhere where He lives and dwells with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

John 14:16-17: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

So, here is this man’s spiritual state: empty and unguarded, and Christ does not abide there. This demon knew where this man’s address was, so it decided to visit him a second time (like any robber) to check out his house. He doesn’t find Christ there, but he does see that the person tried their best to clean it, organize it, and even decorate it. But since no one’s guarding it, he brings in several other foul spirits worse than he himself is, and all inhabit that man’s body, and the man is far worse than he had ever been.

So what actually happened to this man spiritually? I will give you my own hypothetical to explain what happens on a regular basis to people like this man, given in Jesus’ parable.

Let’s say there’s an addict on the street who is homeless and wretched. A pastor comes along looking for new converts for his church; he finds the addict, invites him to Sunday service, and successfully (with time) casts out a demon with the help of the Lord. Then, because the pastor is solely focused on filling up his pews instead of instructing new converts in the Lord’s ways, his advice for the former addict is to go and find a successful job. Make as much money as possible. Because the churches today teach when you make a lot of money, that must mean God is on your side, they reference Solomon as an example.

The addict was shown love and mercy by the pastor, and he has put some of his trust in that leader; he takes his advice to heart. He goes out and becomes his own boss of a successful company he starts and later makes millions every month with an artificial intelligence company.

But not knowing or realizing subconsciously, his morals are slowly being absorbed by his obsession or love of money itself. He expands his operations into the country and negatively affects animals and farmers and their own personal lands. The health of the poor farmers and livestock plummets, creating cancer from the liquid used to cool down the computers in the factories. The liquid is released into the rivers and lakes, not being filtered out because that would cost too much, and frankly, he doesn’t care anyway.

The successful man, once an addict and now a businessman, is taken to court, and he pays hush money to the victims of his operations, hush money to the lawyers, and bribes the court authorities with money as well. And all take the large bribes, besides a few of the victims, because life and truth are far more valuable than dying and taking money, according to the poor cancer-ridden victims at this point.

Eventually, in this sad example, the successful businessman wins and keeps his business. The poor victims with time pass away in agony and pain. Mind you, this story I made is based on real instances of this exact problem happening.

To the former addict, now a businessman, it’s just capitalism, and he has a right to do so. He’s become so successful that he even says God’s hand was in this and that he believes in God too. Never mind actually quoting Jesus when he said, “But woe unto you that are rich! For ye have received your consolation!” (Luke 6:24) And never mind the verse where Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.”
(Matthew 6:19)

Do you see what happens when someone originally had their spirit cured and then, after, does not guard himself from more sins later? He becomes worse in actions and deeds.

The pastor in this story should have taught the former addict to continue serving God and focus solely on service to Him and others in genuine love. Instead of entertaining greedy ambition and selfishness. Something Jesus punishes people for and a few other followers of God warn against too.

“Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.’” (Luke 12:15)

“Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10)

Just on the sin of greed, Paul received a special saying from Jesus that is not recorded in the gospels but lines up with everything Jesus teaches.

As Jesus himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)

To finish this article, we are meant to follow what Jesus taught, and we need to be on guard against sin; we need to know what sin is according to Jesus. If we go about healing, casting out demons, and just saying, “LORD, LORD,” God is going to be disappointed, and the judgments will be terrible.

We need to do all of those things just mentioned and also teach others to continue obeying all Jesus said and taught so they don’t go back and become worse than they were before and sin continually. We will be held accountable for that if we don’t teach them after we heal the unconverted.