The political climate in our country seems so dark right now. I turned on the debate the other night a couple times, only to turn it off again because of feeling my stomach turn. I even had feelings of embarrassment watching it. To see two leaders treat each other like they did says a lot about the state of our world. It was like watching two children that don't know any better. There’s such a feeling of hate out there. It’s like a dark cloud hovering over all of us. What is this all about?

The Bible says in Ephesians 6:12, that the battles we see, even at debates, are not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. In other words, the things we see might seem like a battle between people or political parties, but it’s so much bigger than that. It’s a spiritual thing.

Let me throw this out there, if you’re a believer in Jesus today, then you are right in the middle of that battle. That hate out there is directed at you as well.

Satan hates God…so if you claim to be a Christ follower…Satan hates you. He will seek to steal, kill, and destroy you and everything good you stand for.

The world hates God…so if you claim to be a Christ follower…the world hates you.

As Christians, we are the aroma of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15-16) in this battle. To some we are the aroma of life, to others we are the aroma of death.

Big question: Do people associate you with Christ? Or do they associate you with the world?

If you are a Christ follower today, you are hated by this world. Understand that it comes with the territory. But be associated with Him anyway. It will never be easy. Set yourself apart by being a person that loves others. Be a person who shows grace. If we can’t do this, we become the noise, the problem, the barrier, and just another cause for unbelief.