“The Enemy Within”

Pogo, the friendly opossum and cartoon philosopher from another generation, once said these words that are worthy of our remembrance:

“We have met the enemy—and they is us!!”

Yes, this fictious character from the Okefenokee Swamp in a syndicated comic strip that ran from 1948-79 definitely spoke the truth.  The question is “Do we really believe that—and, if so, what can we do about it?”

Back in the 1950s the big threat was Communism.  Even now, those of us who are old enough, still remember Nikita Khruschev, First Secretary of the Soviet Union from 1953-64, looking into the television camera and saying “We will bury you!!”

But, we know that didn’t happen: especially after President John F. Kennedy told him to remove Soviet missiles from Cuba—which he did a week later. However, some 60 years later, this crisis pales in comparison to the crises America is facing today.

We have a crisis of leadership.  We have a crisis politically, constitutionally, militarily, economically, ethically, morally and, above all, spiritually.  And, it’s this last one that should alarm us much more than possible terrorist “sleeper cells” here in the U.S.

Yes, ever since the Vietnam era in the 60s we’ve seen a dramatic decline in America’s moral and spiritual values.  It started with the burning of bras and draft cards. . .the sexual revolution. . .a rise in drug abuse (marijuana, LSD, cocaine, heroin, etc.). . .the legalized murder of babies in the womb through abortion. . .a rise in divorce and decline in church attendance.

But, even then, we never imagined we’d reach the place where elected members of Congress and a Supreme Court justice couldn’t define what a “woman” is.  Instead, in trying to appease everyone—especially those members of the LGBTQ community and advocates for transgenderism, transspecies, etc—we ended up pleasing no one: especially God.

So, the question is “How did we get in this mess?”

And, the answer is fairly simple: because we turned away from God and clearly-defined, Biblical views-and-values that make for a just, law-abiding society.

Yes, in an attempt to appease everyone by stressing tolerance, inclusiveness, pluralism, etc., America lost her way and now wanders in a malaise of misery and muddled thinking.  And, sadly, even among professing, Bible-believing Christians, there is much confusion and division: all because God has been left out of the picture.

Yes, when I was growing up, most everyone went to church (whether we wanted to or not).  The father was the head of the home and took the family to church; but, through the years that all changed: especially when the divorce rate climbed to over 50%, leaving a single mom to try and raise the children on her own.

Likewise, folks began losing a fear of God and the Judgment.  Part of this came with the preaching of “cheap Grace” (as Bonhoeffer called it): which mostly focused on God’s Love and seldom mentioned His Wrath.

Consequently, like the frog being cooked to death in a pan of water as the temperature is slowly raised, so did America’s conscience become seared or calcified.  The things that used to shock us, making us blush, no longer faze us (e.g., R-rated movies in the 70s vs XXX-rated movies on cable-channels).

So, we shouldn’t be surprised that “Sesame Street” is currently being blasted after airing a program entitled “Happy #PrideMonth from Sesame Street!” on June 1, 2026 to celebrate Gay Pride Month.  What started out as a wholesome, educational program for children ages 2-6, has now become a tool for grooming and indoctrinating those precious, formative minds.

And, sadly, a recent survey found that 70% of men and some 35% of women are hooked on porn.  So, the problem is not “out there” somewhere; it’s lurking within in a heart that’s bound by lust in a stronghold of sin.

That’s why I Peter 4:27a says “For the time has come that Judgment must begin at the House of God;” in other words, it’s time for those who profess to love God to take an honest look within and see if their talk and walk agree and are pleasing to God.

Yes, it’s time to do some serious soul-searching (Psalm 139:23-24); otherwise, later on, we’ll wonder how things so bad: and we won’t have anyone to blame but ourselves.

Help us, O God.

          (NOTE:  If you’d like to contact Bro. Tom or receive his daily devotional, entitled “Morning Manna,” you can e-mail him at pressingon@hotmail.com).