Enemy

Enemy                                                       July 2019

The enemy made that woman drunk who t-boned your car at the intersection. The enemy encouraged your coworker to lie to your boss and cost you that promotion. The enemy helped your daughter’s boyfriend drive to the clinic to abort your grandson. The enemy convinced the Afghan shepherd to rifle wound your brother. The enemy made you believe that a porn star is more beautiful than your wife. The enemy made a book of fantasy that promoted a fictional character to the status of your “lover.” The enemy said it was all right to drink that fourth beer before you drove home. The enemy made that tidbit about your neighbor so sensational that you had to tell everyone about it.

Not one of these things came from God.   He loves you and wants His inspired word to encourage you. He told you that “Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  (1st Peter 5:8)

Isn’t it time you recognized who the enemy is and how he works? Isn’t it time for you to fight back? This is how it is done as Jesus told us:   “Love God with all your heart, mind, and soul.”   and the second of these is “Love one another as I have loved you.”

Our love and compassion will make all the difference in the world. Yet, we must not ignore the enemy of mankind. His time is short and so he must do as much damage as he can out of his anger. We need to be bold in calling evil what it is when we see it. What hatred was harvested by Hitler as he slew the Jews, the priests, and the gypsies? What lengths will a despot go to in protecting his power from those who oppose him? What does ingratitude in our own hearts cause us to seek when we already have so much?

Examine first your own motives but do not let the media convince you of their view because:   “Those prophets refuse to be honest. They tell my people there will be peace, even though there’s no peace to be found. They are like workers who think they can fix a shaky wall by covering it with paint.”  (Ezekiel 13:10, written in 571 BC.) These are serious times that we can fight toward victory one human to help at a time.   These are joyous times because we are not alone in these battles, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)