FALLING AWAY
(Full of God, Full of the Wrong Things, or Just Empty???)

Introduction

When many individual accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior after hearing the gospel, they show such enthusiasm about being a part of the family of God. Often times they even become teary eyed when talking about the things of salvation in Jesus. This level of sincere dedication seems to last for varying lengths of time depending upon the individual. But then often time something happens, causing that initial excitement and sincerity to falls away. And it appears a battle begins that brings the person to a point of struggling to decide whether to remain dedicated to Jesus, or return to their old habits and attitudes. This seems to be the circumstance Jesus describes beginning at “Matt 12:43, through Matt 12:45; and then the condition that the Apostle Peter speaks of in 2 Peter 2:22 takes charge again. See the “Primary Scripture References” section below.

The individual gets cleaned up, set on the path with God, and they are content and happy for a time. This is that time of an individuals "visitation", and to the degree of the person's willingness to receive of Jesus, this visitation comes to everyone that encounters the gospel. But there is always a wide variation of response to this visitation; from complete rejection to indescribable excitement!!! 

Saul of Tarsus, who later became the Apostle Paul, I believe, had the most “attention grabbing” visitation of anyone in the New Testament; and perhaps, of anyone in the entire Bible (except for Moses). See Acts Chapter 9 of your Bible.

In the case of the Nation, Judah of Israel, the failure to recognize their time of visitation, which resulted in their subsequent rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ, brought on desolation(s) from God even unto this present time. See Luke 19:37 through 19:44 in the “Primary Scripture References” section below. 
Today their only access to God is limited to praying at the western wall that remains from the time Rome destroyed the Temple and City of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
The explanation(s) for this is given in prophecy as follows: 
They can not access God through Jesus because he was rejected by the ruling authority. They can not access God according to the ordinances of Moses because there is no Jewish Temple. Thus the prophecies of: Daniel Chapter 9:25 through 27, Matthew 23:29 through 23:39, Luke 19:37 through 19:44, and a number of other prophecies throughout the Old Testament.
This is the desolation the nation has experienced over, approximately, the last 1943 years, or so. And it shall remain so until the ruling authority can say of Him (Jesus), “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 23:39).

Primary Scripture References

Mat 12:43  When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he (the unclean spirit) walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 
Mat 12:44  Then he (the unclean spirit) saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 
Mat 12:45  Then goeth he (the unclean spirit), 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. 

2Pe 2:22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. 

Luk 19:37  And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 
Luk 19:38  Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 
Luk 19:39  And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 
Luk 19:40  And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out (saying the truth of what any disciple/ follower would refuse to say). 
Luk 19:41  And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 
Luk 19:42  Saying, If thou (Judah of Israel) hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now (because you have rejected me) they are hid from thine eyes. 
(The Roman Empire began to fulfill their part in this prophecy, according to the following verses about the year 70 A.D., by destroying the city and temple at Jerusalem):
Luk 19:43  For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 
Luk 19:44  And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. 

Discussion of Scripture

The falling away of dedication to God brings to mind the Apostle Paul's question in Galatians 3:1, which states, "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, ....". 
To those of us that struggle today I ask the question, "who has polluted (bewitched) you with doctrine that is different from that you heard when you first received God's mercy by the preached gospel which comes with salvation in Christ Jesus only?" While you remained full of dedication and excited about Jesus you should have filled your thoughts and heart with the word of God, that you may overcome in the time of struggle against the unclean spirit that always returns in an attempt to reclaim you (his former residence), as stated in Matt 12:44. You were swept and garnished by receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. And now there are three questions, which are, "have you remained empty, or filled yourself with all the wrong things, or filled yourself with the word and things of God?" If you have not filled yourself with God and his word, you are in jeopardy of the state described in Matt 12:45 and 2Peter 2:22. 
The understanding I get from these scriptures above is that the individual who is empty, swept, and garnished, or filled (polluted) with the wrong things, when the unclean spirit returns, that individual is of "this wicked generation" Jesus spoke of in Matt 12:45. 
When the unclean spirit attempts to reclaim you, let him find you not empty, but filled with all the things of God, his word, and the Holy Spirit. These stand guard of your soul!!!