What About Our Evil Enemies?

Oct. 12

Read: 2 Timothy 3:10-16

What About Our Evil Enemies?

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (v.12,13)

“…strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22, the work of Paul and Barnabas)

We should not be surprised when we are persecuted by the world for our faith in Jesus Christ. If you are seeking to live a godly life, sooner or later you fill face this opposition. The reason? We have a very real enemy in this world that seeks to “devour and destroy”. (cf. John 10:10, Gen. 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8) We need not be “shocked” when we see that “evil people and imposters go on from bad to worse”. They are allowed to continue on… being evil along the way. Why is this?

God is so merciful, patient, and loving that he allows for every opportunity that a person may repent. For us, it seems odd that the evil are not immediately destroyed - but it is a sign of God’s grace and mercy that it is not this way. This is why we pray earnestly that those who are evil would repent. This is “praying for our enemies” as Jesus puts it:

“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.” (Jesus, Matt. 5:44)

What is our job as the people of God? What is crucial for us to endure these persecutions and tribulations that will inevitably find us here in the world as function on the front lines of the Kingdom of God and where it meets the kingdom of darkness in this world? (cf. Col. 1:13) As the people of God we must “continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it… (being) acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (v.14,15) This is how we endure and remain faithful and effective in these “last days”.

When the first him was created (Adam) it says: “then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” (Gen. 2:7) God’s “breath” brings life. So imagine what it means to say that “all scripture is God breathed”. (v.16) God breaths our LIFE and the scriptures are a byproduct of this. They have life in them because they point us to CHRIST who is the “light and life” of humanity. (cf. John 1:4) We are being “equipped for every good work” in these last days. (v.16) Through the word of God, with the Spirit of God, and the people of God “the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (v.16) This is how we are made complete in these last days. This is what we are called to … to be made complete and equipped to carry out good works in the midst of persecution and tribulation… in the face of the enemy. We know that these “good works” will face opposition. “Do not grow weary in doing good” brothers and sisters. (cf. 2 Thes. 3:!3) May the Lord breathe on you today… may you be made whole and complete by Jesus… may we endure in HIS good works being done in and through us. Love you guys. - JDP