When the Enemy Strikes

I still vividly remember how I felt on December 7, 1941. It was on that fateful Sunday afternoon as a boy of nine that I first heard about the Japanese surprise attack at Pearl Harbor. I watched as our small town of Danville, Virginia, began to deal with the possibilities of a war. An unexpected enemy had struck, and our lives would never be the same.

Likewise, no one would have predicted the terrorist attacks on our nation September 11, 2001. When those airplanes were crashed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, our fast-paced society came to a sudden stop. The unthinkable had occurred. America had been assaulted by a foe that hated us because of who we are and what we believe.

Throughout our lives we face many different types of enemies. Some are motivated by personal reasons. A person may dislike you for any number of reasons—he may be jealous of your success or perhaps want to take from you something he desires for himself. Once in awhile you may be hated so much that someone might want to harm you in a very serious way or even end your life.

When you know your foe and are prepared for the attack, victory is achievable. But I have found that the greatest enemies are unknown and unexpected. For instance, a trusted friend who turns against you when she sees the potential for personal gain. A co-worker who gossips and schemes against you in hopes of a pro-motion. Or a thief hiding in the night waiting to rob you. The motivation that all these enemies share in common is found in the root of evil.

Evil. It is something we know exists, but it is not a topic we like to think about or confront. Evil has a face. It is dangerous … dark … foreboding … deadly. Do you know what is the ultimate source of evil? Are you aware of how evil operates? If you don’t know how it works, then how can you adequately protect yourself and your loved ones against its sudden attack?

Charles F. Stanley, When the Enemy Strikes: The Keys to Winning Your Spiritual Battles (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2004), 1–2.

We have just released a new Bible Study based on the book: When The Enemy Strikes, by Charles Stanley

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