the enemy within

Whatever your perspective on the results of the recent elections, I believe we have indeed seen the enemy within.  But not the one that was much debated, pro and con.  We have met the enemy, and he is us.  The enemy is within us, each of us, and, without God's help, we become the enemy.

When Jesus lived among us, there were two main religious parties at war with each other.  They demonized each other, particularly over the matter of miracles and resurrection.  They were enemies who united in their viewing Jesus as the enemy.  But Jesus didn't side with either.  Rather, He identified the real enemy when He said, it is from within, out of a person's heart, that evil thoughts come - sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.  All these evils come from inside and defile a person (Mark 7:21-23).  The enemy is within, and he is us.  

The real lesson of this election cycle is that this evil is what we have become, whether we approach the good life from the left, right, or center.  The enemy rears his ugly head in each of us, and we have heard and seen plenty of it from our own lips and postings.  

By The Grace of God, we have a Savior Who rescues us from our enemy selves, and a Lord Who calls us to repent and live anew by faith.  Together let's become His true allies, and leave the enemy within to die at His outstretched Hands on The Cross.