It is important that you understand the intent of your enemy and who caused them to be your enemy. It is not uncommon to have differences in views or goals. It is understandable that some will choose different paths. It is even possible to see some commonalities in the choices and purposes of others. When some think alike they feel justified and vindicated in their accomplishments. Just knowing that others have chosen similarly gives comfort and strength. People root for the same sports team for no better reason than where they were born. If someone likes the same animals, the same guns, the same books, then they are worthwhile and acceptable in your eyes. Those who do not may well become your enemy.
In the case of sports teams or authors or musicians enemies are seldom more than rivals. Even admirers of specific automobiles or computers can generally poke fun at each other without coming to physical violence. But when it comes to the big three, we carefully moderate our exposure and strategically position ourselves for advantage. Religion, politics and sins are amongst the most discussed and carefully hidden topics in our lives. Religion is the basis for the moral framework of your life. Politics is the modality by which you attempt to bring others into compliance with it. Sins are the failure to comply with your own belief system.
Sins are based on one’s moral perspective and while everyone has them, few are willing to proclaim them. Most people around the world would call themselves an enemy of someone who would deliberately murder an innocent child. Yet there are circumstances which could cause some to justify it. Addictions bring many into the subjection of forces they would be disposed to call abominable. The love of money and material rewards may be viewed as evil compromises. Alcohol, drugs, sexual pleasures all can turn pleasure into pain and satisfaction into sorrow. Setting a standard and following it is admirable.
Twisting and manipulating it for temporary rewards is seen as sin afterward. Sin then is seen as the enemy of the soul seeking to find itself acceptable. While Alcoholics Anonymous might promote confession as good for the soul, most sins are talked about but not addressed. Heroin promises joy but brings death. Perversion glorifies excitement but enslaves and destroys. Stealing, lying, cheating, dishonoring are all choices which promise reward and deliver sorrow.
Politics is that arm of human interaction which causes differing beliefs to merge at the point of common benefit without losing individuality. Politics, when discussed, reveals differences of value and engenders strife. What a pity that a candidate for office has to agree with so many viewpoints they find abhorrent. Still no one expects to agree with everyone. Enemies are easily made and wounds are festered through callus words. Support from one direction may lead to alienation from another. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. The friend of my enemy is my enemy. We seek to produce a form of government which does not allow the imposition of foreign ways upon our lives while enduring the enemy it becomes.
Religion is not just a belief in God. Religion is the systematic order of things by which your life is given boundaries for explaining the things which are outside of the context of your reasoning. Whether it is a godless humanity without restraint or a kind and benevolent protector with plan and purpose, each ascribes to one or many such influences. Finding the norm is a journey which may change occasionally in a lifetime. Religion sets the absolute limits of what life is all about. For the atheist and hedonist, it is pleasure, the moment and experiencing life while believing it goes nowhere. For most of the world it is the set of explanations by which they declare a greater knowledge of events and circumstances than they actually enjoy. The purists revel in the confidence and certainty that their way is the one truth. They have discovered and devoted their lives to its promotion. Each group declares itself as enemy to none while ascertaining the other as wrong.
Friends are good things. Friends agree or at least agree to disagree agreeably. Friends tend to overlook minor sins and digressions. Friends understand boundaries, differences in development, preferences, and even tolerate minor annoyances. Friends help us to grow and promote the purpose of our lives just as joyfully as we do theirs. We can know a few friends or we can know many. Enemies are unfortunately more common. We make enemies when we do not accept them, their circumstances or their conflicts as preeminent. Whether it is a person a group or an ideology, each sees themselves as the center of all that is important. So when someone else would attempt to dispose them from their self-appointed throne they begin to see an enemy. Those who have great material wealth often disparage those with little and often fear that sharing will lead to their demise. Conversely those with little might suspect they are deprived of opportunity and blessing by the decisions of the wealthy.
None of these are easy areas to have open and honest discussions about. Advice is often seen as criticism. Assistance can be viewed as handouts to the less able, to the less honorable. Truth is subjective without absolute authority. The one thing that no one wants to be is wrong. We do not want to be wrong about friends, wrong about enemies, wrong about truth. So from my perspective, I do not concern myself with my ability to get others to agree with me. I have a friend who is more than able to convince those who choose to listen. Because I count Him as my friend, there are others who detest my every breath and thought. They are so diametrically opposed to the reality of the truth we subscribe to that they see annihilation as the only resolution they are interested in. My enemy has many friends. Most of them do not count me as worthy of conversation. I fear none of them. I do not even fear my enemy. The reason he is my enemy is because although I followed him for a time I rejected his lies as unprofitable. I have found that when I resist him he turns and runs away.
My friend has a track record as well. He has been shown to be faithful to every commitment. He never lies even when it is not what I want to hear. He finds ways to turns the circumstances I choose for my benefit. He works within my body for my physical healing and constantly provides wisdom for my benefit. My friend is Jesus the Christ of God. He is my creator and sustainer. It is the one source from which all truth emanates. He is the one whose words were twisted to provide every lie which has ever been uttered. His Holy Bible is His true word. It contains no errors. It reveals the future of my enemy and all who will follow him. In Him, in Jesus, I have life eternal, blessings for today and bright hope for tomorrow. He asks one things of me, obedience. He asks me to agree with His truth and live my life making choices which benefit me and glorify Him.
I became His friend the same way you can. By believing His word is true, accepting that I broke His laws and defied His authority. I was guilty and deserved the death sentence for my crimes. Then I learned that He took my penalty to set me free. When He lived on earth He loved me even though I was not yet born. When He died on Calvary’s cross, He paid the debt for my sins. When He rose from the grave just as He promised three days later, He justified me before His Father in Heaven. I asked this one thing of Him. “Dear Lord Jesus I know I am guilty of the sin I have committed against You. Please save me from Your wrath and forgive me. I receive You as my Savior.” When I accepted Him and all He did for me, He became my friend, my best friend forever. I now have a home for eternity with Him in Heaven. I fear no evil. I lack no necessary provision. I need no human government. I have been given the greatest gift available and I chose to make it known to you. I am Not your enemy.
