Seeing the Real Enemy
Sometimes the Lord gives us clarity in the simplest moments — even while mowing the grass. What was once familiar suddenly becomes illuminated, and we see the truth more clearly than before. This reflection is one of those moments: a reminder that our battle is not against people, but against the unseen forces that influence them.
A Moment of Clarity
I was out mowing my grass this evening, thinking about some of the things I recently posted to the blog. You’ve probably experienced this too — a moment when it feels like a light switches on, and suddenly something becomes clearer than it ever was before.
Let me begin with a question: with all the evil happening in the world today, do you look at the individuals committing these acts as evil people? I think I have done this at times. But I now believe we are looking at it the wrong way. It is not the person himself who is evil — it is the evil working within him, influencing, deceiving, and driving him to act.
In my previous post, “The Book of the Wars of The Lord,” I was searching for a specific Scripture verse that I couldn’t locate. Then I received a comment from Derek Shaver — the author of the book by the same name — telling me exactly where that verse was found. This was surprising, because in the five-plus years I’ve been writing this blog, Derek is the only person who has ever left a comment.
The Verse That Opened My Eyes
The verse I was looking for was:
Ephesians 6:12 (CEB)
“We aren’t fighting against human enemies but against rulers, authorities, forces of cosmic darkness, and spiritual powers of evil in the heavens.”
I had read this before, but it didn’t truly sink in until this evening. The evil we are called to fight is the same evil that can work in any one of us. If we don’t know Yeshua Jesus… if we don’t have Him living within us… if we haven’t asked to receive the Living Water — the Holy Spirit — then we have no power to resist the evil one, Satan, or the forces under his rule.
This is why we must pray for all people — even our enemies. This is why we must witness when the opportunity arises. This is why we must desire for all people to see the light, receive Jesus, and ask for the Living Water — the power we need to stand against the forces of darkness.
I believe this is also why the Lord calls us to forgive others, just as He did:
Luke 23:34 (CEB)
“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.”
7/26/16 — One more thought came to me: Jesus was constantly casting out demons — even for things we might think we should go to a doctor for. This should tell us something about the unseen battle behind the visible world.
Closing Reflection
When we see evil in the world, we must remember: the person is not the enemy — the enemy is the enemy. Our calling is to stand in truth, walk in love, pray for all people, and carry the light of Christ into the darkness.
Closing Prayer
Father God,
Open our eyes to see people the way You see them.
Teach us to recognize the true battle — not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of darkness.
Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, the Living Water, so we may stand firm, walk in love, and pray for all people, even our enemies.
Strengthen us to forgive as Jesus forgave, and to shine Your light wherever darkness tries to take hold.
In the name of Yeshua Jesus, our Lord and Savior — Amen.
