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Who's the Enemy? What's the Battle?

As many people are getting more excited about football starting up, it's sad that the top story out of football right now is about a back up quarterback sitting on a bench.  No, literally it is.  I'm not writing this to in any way debate, or even really to discuss, Colin Kaepernick's protest of the American flag due to police violence against African Americans.  By now most of us have seen what he did and heard why he did it.  My concern is the vastly different reactions, emotions, and feelings that are coming out of his protest. 

Again, I don't want to debate, and am not intelligent and informed enough to do so, whether or not he was right or wrong.  My initial reaction was that of shock and anger and how he could disrespect the flag and what it stands for.  But then I read about why he did and see others reactions to it and I believe that many, once "cooler heads can prevail," would agree that his motivation is noble, but his method could have used some more thought. 

Okay, on to what this really got me thinking about.  I have been most alarmed by how people have reacted to the story as to the story itself.  All kinds of different people are villainizing Kaepernick and those who have supported the side they don't agree with.  Clearly and unfortunately, there is still a racial divide in America.  I am saddened to say that's the case but it cannot be argued based on current events. 

So if we are divided now, what happened to the UNITED States of America?  Is there an enemy attempting to divide and conquer what was once one of the most powerful, and I believe most Christian, nations in the world?  Yes, there is!  So who's the enemy?  Who is doing this to our country?  Is it the media?  President?  Clinton?  Trump?  Cops?  Kaepernick?  The answer is simple, Satan is destroying the land that proclaims itself to be "One Nation Under God."  1 Peter 5:8 tells us, "Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

So if the people we see and hear about on TV aren't the enemy, how do we go into battle against an enemy we can't see?  "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, having done all, to stand firm." - Ephesians 6:10-14

Satan is scheming to destroy our country.  Bob Vereen says that Satan's schemes are "orderly, deceptive procedures; each stage of the deception process is well planned, in the hope of causing maximum damage to the victim's relationship with God."  Our fight is not with each other, but with the devil.  The only way that we can defeat him is to strengthen our faith through constant spiritual training.  This is not a call to peace, it's a call to harmony, and to fight against the right enemy.

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