Identify The Opponent

by Todd Slayton · March 26, 2015

Sports…

I love sports! March is one of many great sports months on the calendar.

March Madness, springtime and the crack of the bat! What more could you ask?

Everyone, even the most casual fan, is certainly aware of the madness, right? Tonight is the men’s NCAA Basketball Sweet 16 round; and unless you are living under a rock, in a cave or deep in the holler you know that #1 Kentucky is putting the 36 game streak on the line tonight vs #5 seed West Virginia. It’s going to be a couchburner for sure.

Born and raised in West Virginia, ten minutes from the Kentucky state line, this area is known as the Ohio Valley. There are no shortages of Mountaineers, Thundering Herds, Buckeyes or Wildcats. Talk about a sports melting pot; we have it!

Within this melting pot there are sports rivalries galore. Many spouses, families, friends and co-workers are divided on gameday. It’s all in fun. So tonight be nice! A house divided cannot stand.

More importantly it’s much the same way in our Christian life. We cannot be divided.

Often Christians allow strife, anger, unforgiveness, ridicule, jealousy and gossip to separate them. When we try to communicate, we do so through walls and other types of barriers.

We play right into the hands of the opponent; the evil one.

In these last days (yes, we are living in the last days), seemingly every night there is breaking news of another beheading, disease outbreak, murder or terror attack.

Also, Israel is in a fight defending herself from the entire world. Have you ever wondered why the surrounding countries fight over the tiny land of Israel? Jesus is coming back very soon and when He does He will set up His kingdom in Israel. The opponent will do anything to prevent this from happening.

It is time; well really it is past time, that the Christians stand together. Understand that we play on the same team, for the same Coach and share the same goals. We must unite!