If you were to ask your child who they would like to be like when they grow up, what would they say? Superman? Terrell Owens? Barak Obama? Hulk Hogan? Or you? Broken, clueless, uncertain, you?
I once had a conversation with a boy who was disrespecting other people, mostly females. When I told him he needs to respect others, he told me, "I don't respect anybody but my mom, my grandma, and my auntie."
I asked, "What about your dad?"
The boy said, "I don't even want to talk about that."
What a burden. What a load. There is something deep in this boys heart. He is way to young to possess a hard heart. I believe this is a plague globalizing at a rapid pace. And I am more convinced this problem is due to fathers and husbands who's hearts have been silenced (and not necessarily by force but by persuasion.)
The greatest things that have suffered a man from their families are war and media. The toughest plague in a man, however, is the struggle of not measuring up to the heroes we think our children look up to. When we compare ourselves to the heroes of this world, we continually come in second place. That's exactly what The Destroyer wants.
Ephesians 5:22-23 "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the Husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the Saviour of the body." Now this doesn't mean men can do what they want for the Word also says in Ephesians 5:25, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it."
One thing I will never forget is what my wife has told me: "I may want this and this and this and that but in the end what my husband says...goes."
Another important thing to remember is that Jesus said, "The last shall be first, and the first last: for many are called, but few are chosen."
Satan wants us to crave silver and gold. He wants us to crave sex. He wants us to crave being the best. He wants us to want. We are grown up to believe that if you don't flirt the right way or look the right way, women will not accept you. We are grown up to believe that "the more women you have, the better you are."
Here's what Paul had to say in 1 Corinthians 5:11 - "But now I have written unto you not to keep company if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such and one no not to eat."
Jesus said in Matthew 6:24 - "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."
And from America's Idol to The Voice, being a "star" is everybody's dream. Once again, "The first shall be last, and the last shall be first."
Satan wants us to hate somebody without giving any real thought to why. In the movie, "42", a documentary about Jackie Robinson, there is a scene when a father yells at Jackie Robinson from the bleachers, calling him a "N*gger". His son looks at him a few times in confusion and then eventually yells the same thing.
Where I am from, our high school mascot is an indian. The catch line of pride for our football team was, "Skin 'em." This is the way we are encouraged to think. They are not on our side so get rid of them. And in reality, we don't always quite know who the good guy is and who the bad guy is.
Jesus' reply to our issues is: Luke 9:56 - "The Son of Man did not come to destroy man's lives but to save them."
And also in Matthew 5:22 - "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca (or worthless; empty), shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."
I know that not everybody believes in a higher being but I think it may help to realize that there is a vast encouragement throughout the world for men to feel inferior and need to be a superman, to desire wealth and fame, and to be a warrior. And it is important to understand that the one thing that keeps us from welling up with pride of these egos is love.
Who do you want your children to look up to? What is the one thing that you desire for them? If you are submissive, you are not a leader. If you are a superhero, you have to fight alone. If you seek fame, fortune, and ladies, will you really be there for your children? If you are out on a mission, who is leading your family at home?
I have sat back and seen to many hurting children. And I know far too well that it begins with the parents. You see, we seek a leader in our presidents and kings but never realize God designed every man, in His image, to be leader. And when we find no value in ourselves, God finds value in us. Your wives and children find value in you. Don't give up on them. Don't let your son say, "I don't want to talk about my dad." Let your son say, "My father loved me and my father was there for me."
I, myself, struggle with this; due to the media, my own desires, and my own pasts. That is where we have to remember when we were children and told ourselves, I don't want to be like that. If we ever want this oppression to stop, at least in our own families, we have to put in every effort.
And like I said, I know not everybody believes in God but if you need a light of hope, look up to those who celebrate their 50th anniversaries. Seeing the love that remains in them will show you that love is real and that it can conquer any hate. God is love. Satan is hate. God will win in the end. Amen.
