That is what Christ says to us when we repent of our sin and we find him. There is part of us would almost wish to be with him straightaway in glory, but no, for the moment you are posted here, to make known what has happened to you. And in due course, you will be with me, says Christ, throughout the everlasting ages.
What does this miracle have to say to Christians? It teaches about the way Satan operates. The apostle says, ‘For we are not ignorant of his devices’, his methods, his strategies. Where do we learn about his strategies, his methods? In many places, but also in this miracle. What the legion of demons did in the life of this man is what they try to do even to believers. The man was isolated from society. He lived in the tombs, wore no clothes, roamed the hills and the mountains screaming and shouting at people to go away. How does that picture us? Well, you are a believer, but one of Satan's devices to make you a backslider is to isolate you. So you start coming out to Bible studies less often, and certainly to prayer meetings, and maybe reduce to one service on a Sunday, and maybe rush out quickly afterwards because you are not particularly interested in fellowship. The devil is in a smaller way isolating you so that you don’t get so much ministry. He is also trying to make you become uncontrolled. Those two men were uncontrolled in their behaviour. Maybe you lose your temper a lot. Maybe there are things that you do on impulse. You used to resist those sins, but now they just happen; you've lost control. We stop listening to the voice of conscience. Those men had no discipline. They wandered around and screamed and shouted and didn't dress and clean themselves and so on. The Christian life depends on discipline: the regular prayer time, the regular reading of the word, the saving of time so that it isn't frittered away. Somebody may have a gift and the devil will start to work on your daydreams. Shouldn't you be exercising that gift? Shouldn’t you have a hobby or pursuit? Or shouldn't you follow that, have an ambition for that gift? You start channelling all your efforts into this. I have known Christians who have spoilt their whole testimony and service for the Lord, because they've gone off on a digression pursuing some objective, some dream, which couldn't be attained in their case, wasn't practical for them. It has cost them their emotional energy, and their time, and their Christian life has gone by the wayside. And self-harm, indulging in silly things that will lead us to sin: too much TV, watching worldly entertainment, watching things that will corrupt your mind even, Christians gaming: all the time it takes, and the images they see, and the weakening effect. It is like self-harm. It’s a miracle showing salvation; it’s a miracle for believers showing us Satan's methods and devices, and it's another view of the mighty compassion of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.