Batman had the Joker. Luke Skywalker had Darth Vader. The Roadrunner had the Coyote. Whether you call them an enemy, a foe, an opponent, a rival, a nemesis, or even just competition, we all have them. I remember my senior year in high school, a good friend and I were in hot competition for the 4th spot in the graduating class. It came down to the last semester, each test and paper weighing heavily on our shoulders. We were separated by mere tenths on the GPA scale. I recall looking at her a little different during those months. Intense competition can change the way we see people. I know what you’re wondering. How did it turn out? I ended up really goofing off the last semester and spent more time water skiing at the lake than studying, so she won the spot. Or as I like to tell myself, I let her have it. She might have gotten the 4th spot in the class but I got the 5th spot...and a wicked good suntan.
Competition is one thing, if it remains healthy. But if not handled properly, that friendly competition can escalate. It can move into a different realm. Maybe as that competitor at work excels and gets the big promotion you wanted, they move into a different arena in our mind. They inch closer to rival. Maybe as your neighbor manages to get the brand new, first ever, mid-engine Corvette, he takes a step closer to opponent. Maybe that woman at church that just rubs you the wrong way says something about you behind your back. You decide to start keeping a very close eye on her since she can’t be trusted. She just moved to a foe. You see, our human sin nature has the innate ability to create enemies and foes where there were none. Not necessarily the skill you would list on a job resume, but you have it. And me, and every other sinner on the face of this spinning rock. But as a follower of Jesus Christ, the question always comes back around to the same concept. As we constantly deal with the complexities of our sin nature, we have to ask ourselves, what would Jesus do?
God’s Word has no shortage of enemies. In fact, the list could run on for days. Moses and Pharaoh, the Israelites and the Philistines, Joseph and his brothers, and right here under our nose, David and Saul. But as we look at how God instructed His men and women to deal with their enemies, we have to stand up and take notice. Just as clear as good and evil, we see the difference in how God handled His enemies versus how the world handled their enemies. First lets glance at the way the world deals with its enemies.
Some of my favorite movies lie within the Godfather trilogy. I know it’s rather odd to romanticize about organized crime, but I view the movies as a cross between American History and human psychology. And they have Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, Andy Garcia and Robert Duvall, hello. Just as in the Bible, there is no shortage of enemies within the Godfather trilogy. Rival crime families, the police, personal foes, and yes even wives, husbands and children can all become enemies. But in a world where laws are mere recommendations, dealing with your enemies can become very simple. Just remove them. Rub them out. Whack them. Put a hit on them. Make them disappear. You see, our sin nature tells us that if we can remove our enemies, our problems will be solved. If we can rub out our enemies, life will all be rectified with the simple pull of a trigger. Instead of dealing with our enemy, we seek to avoid the problem by using simple subtraction.
We see a wealth of this in the Bible. David himself in the last few chapters has had two separate occasions to whack Saul and both times he had men standing next to him, encouraging him to swing the sword. But both times David refused. Saul himself however, did not refuse to eliminate people that competed with him or threatened his authority. In one of the most vicious passages in the Bible we see Saul command the execution of 85 priests in the town of Nob. (1 Sam 21:6-19) Their crime? Helping Saul’s true enemy, David. A few chapters later we will see David more craftily eliminate some of his own competition, the husband of his new concubine, Bathsheba. The Bible, our world, and our lives are littered with examples. Get rid of the enemy and get rid of the problem.
But is it really getting rid of the problem? It definitely does not in the Godfather. As soon as one of Michael Corleone’s enemies disappears into the East River, three more populate to take their place. You see, in a guarantee of life, we will never be free of rivals, enemies, foes, opponents and competition. So, it seems the key is, not eliminated our enemies, but learning to deal with them effectively. And that is just what Jesus aims to teach us….in over 100 verses on dealing with our enemies.
“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” Luke 6:27-36
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:43-48
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Matt 5:38-39
And folks, these were not just empty, hollow words from Jesus. As He always did, He lived what He preached. As He hung on a Cross, beaten, bloody and near death, He was looking out at His enemies. The men that had put Him on that Cross, staring back at Him, with a malice and hatred that burned into Him. And in this moment, with blood and sweat in His eyes, straining for His next breath, He uttered these words:
“And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
He prayed for them. He spoke to the Father on their behalf. He asked God the Father to forgive them. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, this is the only example you need of dealing with your enemies today. As your enemies betray you, pray for them. As they abuse you, pray for them. As they wrongfully accuse you, pray for them. As they seek to destroy your reputation, pray for them. Ask the Father to forgive them.
We can’t eliminate our enemies but we can pray for them. And in doing so, let God change the two biggest factors in the equation…our hearts and their hearts.
God bless you as you pray for your enemies today.
Commenti