October 12, 2025

This is an excerpt from my new book, “Beware of Darkness.”

Chapter 9 – It’s Not About Politics:

From “Beware of Darkness”:

Watch out now
Take care, beware the thoughts that linger
Winding up inside your head
The hopelessness around you
In the dead of night
Beware of sadness

It can hit you
It can hurt you
Make you sore and what is more
That is not what you are here for

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     The problem this country is facing is not ultimately about politics; we are in a spiritual war.

Yes, a spiritual war. Yes, down here at ground zero we’re also in a political war; that much is obvious. But the bigger issue – and one that is exponentially more important to us all – is that we are in a spiritual war. And trust me, you don’t want to be on the wrong side of God in this war.

I believe, and sure do hope, the vast majority of Americans want to side with, and help, the One True God – Jesus – on this earth. There are witches and satan worshippers here, yes, but I’m convinced that most Americans want to be on God’s side. On Jesus’s side. But how does one know what that is?

First of all, nothing you think about, pay attention to, or worry about, is more important than God. Once you know He exists, that His Word is the Holy Bible and it is the final, only inerrant, truthful Word of God, and there is no other; once you put your faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, then you belong to Him. And when faced with an issue – whether it’s political, educational, cultural, business related, religious, or about family, He knows the truth. There’s no privacy in the Kingdom of God (or outside of it, either). You don’t even have one thought that God isn’t aware of. In fact, He knows you better than you know yourself.

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Luke 12:7

“But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

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The fact of the matter is, the spiritual war raging all around us is also playing out over all the nations; over the entire human race.

In this war that is going on all around us, satan (he doesn’t deserve to have his name capitalized), and all of his fallen angels, are fighting Jesus and all of God’s holy angels, in an invisible, yet vicious, war for your soul and for the nations. Your soul is your eternal self – your mind, will, and emotions – and satan wants to take you to hell when your body dies. The part of you that will live eternally- your soul and your spirit – will leave this earth at that time. It won’t linger here. There are no ghosts; only demons. There are no aliens from other planets; there are only demons and holy angels.  As for you – when your body dies, you’ll leave this earth and you will live forever in one of only two locations. This is a spiritual law set in place by God, similar to the immutable physical law of gravity. To that, there is no question. The only question is: where your soul will live in eternity.

There is no purgatory. If there is, we’re in it. No, in the end there’s only heaven or hell, the Bible says.

While you are here in this body, there is another given: God gave you free will. Therefore, in the end, where you spend eternity will be up to no one but you. If you don’t freely love God, then He doesn’t want you in heaven. It’s as simple as that.

Meanwhile, on the other side is satan. He is crafty, manipulative, and smart. If you want to understand this more, just read Genesis Chapter 3. He will fight to the bitter end for you. You’re that important to him. And why is satan willing to fight so ferociously to manipulate you and win you to his side? In order to hurt God as much as possible. And it does hurt God when people reject him and side with the enemy of their own souls. Most people in this mostly unbelieving world are enemies of their own self-interests.

In Genesis the Bible explains how God gave dominion over the entire earth to man, and that man – Adam (along with his wife, Eve) – gave that dominion away to satan. Ever since that epically tragic day, all of mankind has been born into a fallen world, where satan has his throne, the Bible says.

You may not believe me, but you were born into sin and into a fallen world. This means that you, and all of mankind was born hell-bent.

Some people tell me they don’t believe in hell, or evil. I tell them to read Luke Chapter 16 – The Rich Man and Lazarus. But you have only to look around you to see the evil. Unfortunately, you don’t have to look very far.

So, if you still don’t believe in evil or hell, which is evidenced right before your very eyes, and which you can read about in the Bible, everything would indicate that you’re in denial. You can take an honest look in the mirror and you know – compared to God’s holiness, we can all see that we’re sinful. No human – except One – can ever meet a sinless, holy standard; the Bible says that’s impossible, and if we’re honest with ourselves, we know this is true.

Now, when assessing political issues or cultural issues, and trying to figure out what is right and what is wrong, you have a choice – do you side with only your selfish opinion; with the newscaster; with the political leader? Or do you want to side with God and take Him at His word?

You decide.

Just know this: There are only two sides in this war: God’s and the devil’s. Right now, as you’re reading this and tonight while you’re watching the news on TV, what you choose to believe is either consistent with God and His Word – the Holy Bible – or it’s not. And if it’s not, you’re on the wrong side. If you’re not on God’s side, you’re on satan’s side.

So, there is only one standard by which we can judge these things. Only one absolute truth. Yes, you know what I’m going to say – it’s the Bible. Living without a Biblical world view and trying to navigate these issues puts you at a grave disadvantage: you lack God’s view of things. So, you can think you’re right all you want; it won’t matter in the end when you stand before Him.

And you will.

Philippians 2: 9-11: ⁹Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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I’ve also had people tell me they believe there are many paths to God, and that one may find God through Jesus, or Buddha, or Shiva…or through a variety of other spiritual leaders. But if that were true, then why would Jesus have willingly laid down His life in order to die a torturous death on the cross? Why would He do that if you could simply be saved by believing in Buddha? That argument renders Jesus’s death pointless. He died in order to take God’s wrath for humanity’s sinfulness upon Himself. He did that for you and me.  So that argument doesn’t stand up.

No, there is only One God and He exists in a Holy Trinity.

Now, God works in the unseen realm, and it’s your faith He’s after. And the Bible says that by putting your faith in Jesus Christ as your savior – the lover and savior of your soul – you will be saved.

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Romans 10: 9-10

⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

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You know, some people don’t give God the time of day. They couldn’t care less about Him. In fact, the Bible says that most of the world, tragically for them, are non-believers and they will not end up in heaven in eternal paradise. Jesus explained this when He said this in Matthew 7: 13-14:

Matthew 7: 13-14

The Narrow and Wide Gates

¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

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Searching “the path is narrow and few find it.”

Search Assist says this:

This phrase refers to a teaching from the Bible, specifically Matthew 7:13-14, which suggests that the way to true life and righteousness is difficult and only a few people will choose to follow it. It contrasts this narrow path with a wider, easier path that leads to destruction, indicating the importance of making thoughtful choices in life.

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Well, the most important “thoughtful choice” you can make in your life is to decide whether or not you believe in Christ. Furthermore, you and I will stand before Jesus Christ and have to give an account of our lives, in the end. 

Romans 14:12:

¹² So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

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Here is a Prayer of Salvation you can pray if you want to choose to be on God’s side and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior:

Prayer for Salvation

Heavenly Father, I believe in Your Son, Jesus Christ. I confess my sins and ask for Your forgiveness. I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior and ask Him to come into my heart. Thank You for the gift of salvation. Amen.

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Once you do accept Christ, it’s important that you read the Holy Bible – the most important “book”/document ever to exist in all of human history. The New International Version is the easiest for a beginner to digest, and there are study Bibles in this version, which will give you explanations of what you’re reading as well as context (i.e.: what was happening in the world and culture at the time that particular book was written) in the margins. I began with an NIV Quest Study Bible and loved it. It’s worth the investment to buy one, believe me. Your eyes will be opened as you read. It’s also a good habit to get into to find and attend a Bible-based Christian church. Your life will begin to change for the better as you do these things. I’ve had so many couples tell me their marriages got better as they attended church every Sunday; their kids started acting more respectful; relationships improved all around, etc. People have gotten delivered from sickness (my own nephew was delivered from lymphoma while at the altar for prayer), healed from emotional problems, become better humans, had their finances improve, and just gotten happier as they fellowship with other believers who are striving to worship and please God as they help one another.

These things are not quantifiable in terms of their benefits to our lives. It’s impossible to ever measure how much it means to have God on your side to help you with your daily struggles. And I pray that you do.