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We have been sharing excerpts from my book called, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” This book reaches out to those who may suffer from anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, self-doubt, hopelessness, and the many other usual suspects.
This book is on sale right now in our bookstore. Check it out by clicking on the “Bookstore,” tab at the top of this page.
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Today’s excerpt is about a State Policeman who is 6′ 5″ tall, but loves the LORD, and has been a tremendous leader amongst the young people.
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Chapter 61
Real Men Love Jesus
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
I know a guy who was 6 foot, 3 inches and weighed around 230 pounds. He had no fat on him. His job required that he be tough and in good shape. There were days he faced death, and days when he’d be called on to save someone’s life. He was an Oregon State Trooper.
The first time I met him, I was very impressed. He didn’t seem like a guy who wanted to rip your head off. He didn’t even seem like a guy who would get angry.
I was right in both cases. He was a man that loved the Lord, and he let everyone know about it. (When He gave his testimony, you’d better listen!) Andy Olson was my two sons’ Sunday school teacher.
Andy has a way with young people. You’d think some of them would want to stay away from him because of their pasts. Instead they flocked to him at our church. He built close relationships with each of them, and they admired his honesty and caring ways.
Andy is retired from OSP now and serves as a State Representative in the Oregon Legislature. He is liked by his fellow representatives and demonstrates great leadership. He is also still witnessing for the Lord. Since I volunteer as a gallery doorkeeper (the fancy name for a person who makes sure no one takes flash pictures or shouts bad things at the representatives), I got to hear him speak before the whole House about Christian living during one session.
Representative Olson is doing what all real men should be doing—using whatever situations they can to tell others about the Lord.
How about us? Do we witness for the Lord? Are there times we could have witnessed but didn’t because we feared rejection? Are we the kind of guys who think we’re too tough to show someone else that we love the Lord and depend on Him? Too many of us are the macho kind of man who wants everyone to think we’re the kind of guy who can make it on his own without God.
Get ready for a big fall.
Jonah ran away from God by trying to float way from Him in a boat. That didn’t turn out too good. He was swallowed by a big fish, and probably had to bathe for weeks to get the smell off him after God released Him from the fish. But he went on to be a tremendous servant for the Lord.
David didn’t do too well either. He had to act like he was stark raving mad to avoid being killed and then went to live in a cave, making him feel far away from God. But God was with him all the time, and David knew he couldn’t make it on his own, so he prayed for God’s help. David went on to be a man that God loved dearly.
Samson was an extremely strong man who let his guard down. He let wicked Delilah cut off his hair, making him a very weak man. He was then captured, and the Philistines gouged his eyes out. He found that great strength in one area of life does not make up for great weaknesses in other areas. His hair began to grow back, and he asked God to let him die with the Philistines when he pushed on the pillars of the building where thousands were gathered. He killed not only himself, but all of those Philistines as well. In that one final event of his life, he killed more of the enemy than he had previously. Even though Samson had turned away from God and lived in sin, God still loved him and heard his prayer.
These examples show us that every situation can be salvaged if we’re willing to follow God again, like each of these men did.
It’s time to put our pride away in the closet and put on some new clothes made of humbleness, meekness and calmness. We don’t have to look tough. We don’t even have to hide our tears. We need to be good examples for our children and for the other men around us.
May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our
God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
1 Thessalonians 3:13
Further Adventures
I’m sure you have met men who think they are tough. They claim they eat nails for breakfast. They say they can pull a train with their teeth. Pretty macho, right? I don’t think so. I don’t think God is looking for people in heaven who can eat nails or pull a train with their teeth.
God wants real men. The ones that gave up much and received little. The ones that served Him in some capacity. These men may have worked in the secular world, but they put their lives on the line to promote their heavenly Father and did it without shame.
Are you a tough guy? Do you think you need to show your “stuff” to be accepted? The meek will inherit the earth. Those words from a verse in the Bible don’t mean Atlas-type people are the only ones who will inherit the earth. It is you and me—the average everyday little guy.
That is my only hope, because if I tried to eat nails, I would weigh twenty pounds more, and if I tried to pull a train with my teeth, well, you probably know the outcome there. I am not all that tough. I am tame as a purring cat on your lap. I am strong enough to know that I am not very strong. I don’t need to be. God will provide my strength, and He will do it for you, too.
Something to Ponder
Isn’t it funny how tough we can act, and yet hurt on the inside?