William Gurnall wrote extensively about spiritual warfare. He said that “a man’s heart is a house that will not stand empty.”*

He wrote in the 1600’s. So he’s using “man” in a general sense; what he says applies to women as well.

The idea is that our heart (metaphorically speaking) is a residence which is always occupied. It is the deep, unseen place and space within us. It is homebase for our conscience. It is where our (real) priorities are set. It is like a control centre for our decisions.

If it is always occupied, it is either occupied with Christ, or with something (or someone) else. When his light is not present, the darkness will push its way into your interior.

Consider this bracing teaching from Jesus in Matthew 12:43-45: “When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”

Notice how the interior of a person is called a “house.” After the unclean spirit (i.e. demonic spirit) left him, the house was unoccupied—but only temporarily. If God’s Spirit does not take up residence in the person, they are creating an environment which is welcoming to unwanted squatters! 

What’s to be done?

If you are a Christian, God’s Spirit dwells within you. This is a powerful, wonderful and life-changing reality. Be thankful, and cooperate with the light of Christ.

You also need to be proactive about keeping the dark out. I could provide some examples of what I mean about “dark.” But I’m guessing that you probably already know.

A man’s heart is a house that will not stand empty. 

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Notes:

–Bible quotes are from the NIV. 

–*William Gurnall, ed. James S. Bell Jr., The Christian in Complete Armour (Chicago: Moody Press, 1984), entry for December 2.