The Wrong Enemy

It all started with a package being delivered to the wrong door in an apartment complex. The resident discovered that the package contained medication for his neighbor, so he set the package in front of the correct door. His neighbor, Gino, and his 15-year-old son, got an alert from their video doorbell saying that someone was at their door. Assuming it was a burglar, they each grab a gun and head outside, trying to find the person. They end up in the parking lot where they see a woman sitting in the driver’s seat of a car. Gino aims his gun at her and, when she looks up and sees him, she panics and backs her car into another vehicle. At that moment, both Gino and his son open fire on the car, several of the bullets narrowly missing the woman. She escaped to a nearby gas station where she called 911. Gino and his son are both facing multiple criminal charges for their actions.

As I read the news article, I couldn’t believe how something like this could happen! How could two people be so wrong in both their assumptions about a situation and on the person involved! But then, I realized I often make the same mistake. No, I don’t grab a gun and start shooting at innocent people. But I do make wrong assumptions and peg people as enemies. It’s especially easy to get into an argument with my wife or another family member, completely forgetting who the real enemy is. The Bible tells us to “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Our real enemy is the devil, not other people. Next time you’re in an argument with someone, take a step back and remind yourself who the real enemy is. Don’t make the same mistake that Gino did, making assumptions and attacking the wrong foe. Fight agains the devil, not your spouse. Remembering who the real enemy is will transform your relationships for the better.