The scientific definition of vacuum is a space devoid of matter. It’s close kin to the word vacant.
Jesus described a spiritual vacuum. He said that when an evil spirit is forced out of someone, creating a vacancy – a vacuum – in the person’s heart, the spirit may come back to find it still vacant. If so, Jesus said, the spirit will re-enter, except this time he’ll bring seven of his evil spirit-buddies with him. The resulting condition of that person will be far worse than their starting one.
The problem, Jesus taught, was that the person remained empty; their final condition could’ve been much better – ideal, even – had they allowed God to fill them.
Most of us have seen the famous William Holman Hunt painting, The Light of the World or Jesus at Heart’s Door. It shows Jesus standing outside a closed door in what seems a garden patio holding a lantern. The door has no handle on the outside; it must be opened from the inside. It’s depicts Revelation 3:20, Jesus’ words, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”

Jesus is offering to fill the void in our hearts. If we open up and invite Him in, He will fill us with the highest quality contents. If we don’t, a vacuum remains that can be filled by our enemy, and He doesn’t knock and wait, like our gentle God does; no, he tries to enter by either force, deception or both.
As the heart of a person can be filled by either God or the enemy, so can the heart of a marriage. A marriage is more complex than an individual person, because two wills are involved, instead of one.
Here are three pointers to keeping your marriage filled with Godliness:
- Agree. Husband wife and wife are stronger together than they are individually, but only if they agree. If they walk divided by disagreement, they’re actually weaker as a couple than as individuals. The Amos 3:3 Scripture comes to mind: How can two walk together unless they agree?

- Both Be Filled. When two people are involved, like in a marriage, not only is there potential for far more strength, but also twice the opportunity for the enemy to gain a stronghold. Both spouses must stay close to God. It’s been said that a marriage is only as strong as its weakest spouse. That can be true in this sense. If one opens their heart to temptation, both spouses can know the resulting destruction.

- Abundant Wise and Loving Communication. One thing the devil hates is a marriage with lots of communication between spouses, lifting each other up with words of love and encouragement.

Behold, Jesus stands waiting, hoping we’ll open the doors to our marriages and allow Him in. What do you say we let Him in to fill up our vacuum?