What’s the difference between a house that is occupied and one that is vacant? When a house is occupied, you will notice that the lights are turned on, people move around, the sound of the TV, music playing, or conversations between people are heard. There may be a car or cars that drive in and out of the premises. A vacant house is usually quiet and dark, with no signs of daily life. If a house has been vacant for some time and it isn’t being maintained by an agent or caretaker, the house starts to look unkempt and neglected. Dust settles, weeds sprout, cobwebs are seen in different corners, and the paint on the wall begins to peel or fade.
The reason that Jesus said we should occupy till He comes (Luke 19:13) is so that our lives are not like a vacant, unkept house that is empty, dull, and devoid of life. To occupy till He comes means to give full attention to God’s will and work until Christ returns. It is to stay busy doing God’s business. It is to be occupied in the Word of God and prayer, and filled with the Holy Spirit. These are the things that fill us with life, the life of God. The instruction to occupy till He comes is to keep us from being idle; it is to ensure we don’t live a wasted and purposeless life. It is to keep us fully engaged or occupied with eternally rewarding activities. God tells us to fellowship with Him, work for Him, and serve Him, so we don’t become like a run-down vacant house.
People tend to respect an occupied, lived-in house. Construction workers, neighbors, and passersby don’t usually dump their litter, broken bottles, or construction debris in front of such houses. But when a house looks empty, unkept, and abandoned, some people see the sign of a lack of life as an excuse to throw trash there. The devil is on the lookout for vacant, unoccupied people to fill with trash; with ungodly thoughts, gossip, negative attitudes, fear, doubt, and even evil spirits. Matthew 12:43-45 says, “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”
Determine that this year, you are not going to be a dumping ground for the devil. You will occupy your mind and heart with the Word of God, you will spend quality time with God in prayer, devote your time to serving God, and receive a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit, so there’s no room whatsoever for any devil or demon to come in or near you. When the devil comes carrying sickness, failure, barrenness, stagnation, poverty, and depression with him, and he is looking for where and whom to give these things, may he find you fully occupied with no vacancy for him.
God has His plan for this year; the devil and his agents also have their own plan for individuals, families, organizations, churches, and our nation for this year. As soldiers of Christ who are to occupy in prayer and warfare until our Lord returns, we shouldn’t be a people who discover satanic plans after they have been implemented. While the enemy is planning, we are to be alert, aware, and quickly move into action in the place of prayer to frustrate and terminate their evil plans.
Don’t leave your place of prayer, worship, and service to God vacant. Something is missing when you don’t take your place; something disastrous can happen when you don’t take your place.
When the Master comes checking on His servants this year, will He find you occupied with the assignment He entrusted to your hands? Invest your time and resources wisely in 2026, occupy till He comes.
PHOTO CREDIT: Pixabay
