David was very committed to attending Bible studies while at sea and going to church with us when we were in port. His life was sincerely transformed. The introduction to David, his salvation, his deliverance from demon possession (or oppression), and his joy, was documented in the stories titled: “The Jew and Jesus,” “The Exorcist,” and “Agape Night.”
The USS Barry in the dry dock at
Boston, Massachusetts, shipyard.
August 1980
David’s pursuit of God took a tragic turn when he went on several weeks of leave and returned to his home in New York City. After returning from leave to the Barry, he was unable to be reasoned with. His mind had become completely irrational, clouded, dark, warped, and obscure. To him, God had become some infinite being out past the farthest galaxy, far beyond which we little humans could ever begin to communicate with.
David’s plunge into mental confusion was due to nothing else than the return of the demons from which he had previously been cleansed, and they evidently brought with them seven more that were more controlling and evil than the first.
“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it 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.” (Lk. 11:24-26).
Propellers on the USS Barry.
In Boston, Massachusetts, shipyard dry dock.
August 1980
When I asked David what happened to bring on such a dramatic and rapid change in his thinking, he only told me that he had some encounters with prostitutes while he was on leave. His yielding to temptation was undoubtedly the very thing that opened him up to this demonic oppressiveness that had created such a dark and impenetrable cloud in his mind. David had told us not long after his conversion that his parents and grandmother were witches. It’s clear that these demons were willing to pay a heavy price to get this young man back into their clutches!
His lifestyle was now worse than it was prior to his new birth. His heart had become cold and harder than it had ever been, and according to the true proverb:
“A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” (2 Pet. 2:22)
It was heart-wrenching to watch the moral decline of my friend. All of my praying and efforts proved unproductive in seeing him restored. From time to time I wonder about my friend and whether he has ever been freed from that veil that was cast over his mind.
“For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers’ minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God.” (2 Cor. 4:4)
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