Human nature tends to conjure up enemies. We see them everywhere we look, whether they truly exist or not. We divide people into either “us” or “them,” and the latter are always our enemies.

The divisions can be broad and arbitrary (skin color, occupation, address, education). And they can become very fine-tuned. (Did you attend college? Which college? What did you study? Were you in a fraternity? Which one?) We just love to know who we should hate.

You never have to look very far to find division, enemies, and hatred. A simple look at a globe shows thousands of lines we have drawn, literally, dividing up the earth between many “usses” and “thems.”

Each country has its own leaders with their own agendas and power to wield. They have a flag and a national anthem and sports teams. And an army. Nations go to war over and over to fight the “enemy” on the other side of those lines.

“On that day the Lord will become King over the whole earth  — the Lord alone, and his name alone.” (Zechariah‬ ‭14‬:‭9‬, ‭CSB‬‬)

One day, none of those lines will matter anymore. There won’t be any more presidents, prime ministers, dictators, or emperors. There will just be one King, ruling all of creation. And He will utterly destroy our only true enemy — evil. All that will remain is God’s sovereignty and love. We will finally be able to recognize each other as friends instead of enemies.

Dear God, thank you for your promise of an end to hatred, war, fear, and enemies. Forgive me for the times I have viewed others as my enemy when they were not. Open my eyes to the lies of the devil regarding divisions between “us” and “them” that don’t actually matter. Teach me how to always live as a friend.