Chapter 49

There are some people who spend their entire lives trying to please others. They do not want anyone to be angry with them or not like them. This is impossible though. We all have people who become angry with us or who simply do not like us for one reason or another. There is nothing we can do to stop it. This is a normal part of life. Maybe that is why the Scriptures talk about enemies so often. Its books are filled with stories of men and women discovering their enemies, facing them, defeating them and being defeated themselves. This is one reason why the Bible is so rich and colorful. It does not color-coat anything; it gives us reality. It may not always be the reality we want but it definitely is the reality we need, including that of enemies.

Everyone has enemies. EVERYONE! Did you know that even God has enemies? How could anyone be an enemy to God? It is easy. There are people who blatantly choose to become His enemy; there are others who are His adversaries and do not think they are.

James 4:4 reads, Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. In the spiritual battle between good and evil, there are no neutral parties. If you are not on God’s side, then you are His enemy. This is because there is such a clear delineation between good and evil, God and his enemy satan. If you choose not to be on God’s side, then you are choosing to be on satan’s. Many people may say that they do not believe in satan and demons but the Bible clearly reveals to us that they do exist. It is not for us to question God and His Truth. We are to accept it and then determine how we are going to live our lives. Are we going to fight for goodness, purity and righteousness or will we sit back and allow evil to run amuke? It is a simple decision that many people refuse to make. By their refusal to make a decision, they make one though.

When we stand for God and His Truth, His enemies become our enemies and His friends become our friends. Once we dedicate our lives to the cause of Jesus Christ, then satan and his troops see us as their enemies. We are warned about to be vigilant and careful because the devil wants to destroy anyone he can. We are encouraged that we can resist and withstand him through Faith.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.^{^[1]}

It is difficult to comprehend that there are people who choose to serve satan and who worship him instead of the God of Truth and Love. Foolishly they believe they can control him and his horde of demons. These people see themselves as friends and servants of the devil. The truth is that satan and his evil conspirers do not have friends. They are evil throughout and have no love within them. They only seek to use men and women as pawns in their fight against the Holy God. Psalms 66:1-4 makes it clear that these enemies of God will one day acknowledge that He is the True God:

Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious. Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.

As Christians though, we can withstand any attacks the devil and his followers may launch against us because God will help us. Sometimes it may seem like evil prevails over Goodness; that satan is stronger on earth than God. This is not true though. God is allowing His enemies to struggle against Him but they were defeated when Jesus Christ was born on earth, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and was resurrected. Jesus paid the penalties for mankind’s sins and now all of us can become friends to God.

One day God will declare the end of satan’s time of testing and trying mankind. Only God the Father knows when this will occur. That is one reason why the devil is furiously trying to destroy as many people as he can. Satan knows his time is short. At this time, God’s enemies will stand before Him. They may have escaped His vengeance up to this point but no enemy of God will avoid it at the Judgment Seat of Christ. As Nahum 1:2 tells us, God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.

Do you know who your enemies are? It seems like a simple question sometimes. Our enemies are the ones who mistreat us and our friends are the ones who treat us well. Correct? Not necessarily. The Bible warns us that simply because someone seems good does not mean that they truly are. Often people will try to appear to be our friend so they can cause more destructin in our lives. The following passage reveals that satan and his followers often do this:

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.^{^[2]}

We read another warning in Proverbs 27:6, Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. What does this mean? It means that when your enemies attack you, they are showing their true nature; when you enemies show you kindness, however, it is deceitfulness at work.

As Christians, we are called to recognize God’s enemies as our enemies. We are in a battle for the souls of men and women. We cannot play games and try to be neutral. We are in a spiritual war! This is why the psalmist wrote, Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with a perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.^{^[3]}

This does not mean that we can mistreat people though. God forbid. Rather we are called to a higher standard. God is a God of Love and Mercy. He is full of Grace and Forgiveness. He expects His people likewise to be filled.

God does not want us to be happy when our enemies suffer. We are not to gloat when we defeat them. Proverbs 24:17-18 reveals that this displeases Him: Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. Our Heavenly Father expects us to be loving all of the time, even when it does not seem rationale or beneficial. We are to help our enemies when they are in need. We read in Proverbs 25:21-22, If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. Why would we help our enemies? First of all, because God wants His people to do so. He wants us to reveal His love to everyone, including our enemies. We are to prove that we are His children by loving our enemies and offering them forgiveness. God gave us His great love and forgiveness when we were His enemies; therefore, we should do the same. We are to try to emulate our Father in every way, especially the way we handle our enemies.

But I [Jesus] say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and let him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.^{^[4]}

You may think that by loving our enemies, we cannot defeat them. That war is hard and rough and that only the hard and rough survive and win. This is not true in this case though. God won His battle by sacrificing His only Son, Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus never counterattacked the men who beat and then crucified Him. In fact, He prayed that God would forgive them. How could anyone, including Jesus Christ, ask God to forgive people who had injustly mistreated Him and even murdered Him? Because He was operating in the Love of His Father.

Jesus won His battle by seemingly losing it.^{^[5]} Not because He fought against His enemies though; He actually submitted to them. Jesus was familiar with the Scriptures.Surely He read Psalms 18:3 many times. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. He knew that He could have defeated the enemy Himself but He knew God had a higher purpose than winning that one battle: God was winning the eternal war. Jesus did not trust in Himself, rather He submitted to the Father and trusted Him. That is what we are to do. During attacks from our enemies, our prayer should be:

Through thee [God] we will push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.^{^[6]}

When we seek to please God and love our enemies, He blesses us. It is through our love of others, including our enemies, that the blessings of God can come forth. We can discover rest in the midst of the battlefield. We can claim peace during a time of horrific warfare. We can find peace in the midst of tremendous adversity. We can learn to love our enemies and make peace with them. When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.^{^[7]}

^{^[1]}I Peter 5:8-9

^{^[2]} II Corinthians 11:13-15

^{^[3]}Psalms 139:21-22

^{^[4]}Luke 6:27-35

^{^[5]}(He died during the battle but was resurrected three days later.)

^{^[6]}Psalms 44:5-7

^{^[7]} Proverbs 16:7