No; the enemy is not any politician or political party. It’s not even those who hate America and what America stands for. Our last and final enemy is Death that we each must face. Death makes no sense; it’s an enemy we cannot defeat. We all are slaves to its power.
But Death also has its equal: sin. It’s the cause of our slavery we all have within in each of us. Death and sin go hand in hand. Even scripture states that we all are slaves to sin (Rom. 6:17-20). It’s obvious that neither man nor any worldly power can break the bond that holds each of us in its grip.
Yet the world keeps hoping that someone, somewhere can break this endless cycle of hate, pride, resentment, and unforgiveness; its power seems unending. This is reflected in J.R.R. Tolkien’s movie “Lord of the Rings,” which is not just about good vs. evil; its theme is how this enemy, represented by the ring, can overtake the best of us. No one is free from its grip. The ring or evil enemy has an unforgiving power that seeks to destroy, and the destroyer’s eye seeks sin and Death.
But there’s an unseen power that should not be missed; there’s our weakened fight that rebels against this evil that calls each of us into its power. This is highlighted when Gandalf declares of Gollum’s succumbing to the power of the ring, “He hated it and he loved it … but it’s the Ring itself that decides things.”
Christ came into humanity, to enter our pain, our suffering, the ring (sin and Death), so to destroy it. It becomes evident, humanity is searching for truth and life that’s built on a trusted foundation; it must be something beyond what the world continually offers. Christ stated “I am the Truth and the Life” (John.14:6). We often reject this, just as the ring deceives those who trust in its power, which mostly comes from our pride and selfishness.
Listen: The Son of God shared our flesh and blood “so that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death.” Humanity senses we were made for something beyond the ugliness of Death and sin, which all creation suffers. Christ the Divine came and himself conquered Death, which we also can take part by turning our heart, mind, and soul towards Him, Christ.
Freedom from evil and sin, the ring, is founded in God who created all good we see, touch, and share; he is the everlasting Truth and Life that desires us to partake in this freedom he gives for those who ask. As in the power of the ring, our world hasn’t nor ever will give us hope over Death and sin. It is only Christ who went into Death to conquer its power we each must deal with.
Which has its grip on you?
Deni Shepard, Franklin