A Letter for Young Men

I have recently written a letter to young men who are at the beginning of their journey with the Lord.  This is what I felt that the Lord impressed on my heart to say to them.

A favorite quote is mine comes from the movie Kingdom of Heaven, when its main character Balian says, “What is a man who does not make the world better.”  I venture to say that all of our favorite characters in various movies or stories make a difference in their worlds to make it a better place.  These characters are always laboring to do the right thing, fighting the good fight, taking on insurmountable evil, and making difficult choices contrary to their opposition.  When I think of characters like Balian from Kingdom of Heaven, Aragon from Lord of the Rings, Maximus from Gladiator, or William Wallace from Braveheart, I am reminded of what is possible and that good does triumph over evil.

Characters such as these do not just become who they are overnight.  They are in training for years to become the keen warriors that they are.  For example, Aragon spent years in the wilderness before ever meeting the hobbits.  The back story for the Rangers, of which Aragon was their leader, was that they took on the responsibility of keeping the Shire safe from the enemy.  Unbeknown to the hobbits, these men watched over the boarders killing anything attempting to disrupt the peace of the Shire.  This went on for years.  All good men are tempered for a time to become the strong men that they are.  I wish I could tell you this time is easy, but it’s not.  This aspect of the masculine journey is difficult…as it should be.

Before Jesus started His ministry here on earth, He went through a similar experience.  He spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness, and at the end of that time, He encountered the enemy.  Jesus was tempted three times when He was the weakest physically.  Just like in the garden ages ago, the serpent came to Him twisting God’s word.  Jesus saw him for what he is and resisted.  Three years later, Christ defeated the enemy while ransoming us back to the Kingdom of God.  He freed us from the bondage of sin, He rescued us from the grip of the enemy, He gave us a new life of freedom. 

All of us, regardless of age, are on the masculine journey.  It is a journey where you let the Lord father you, and He will father you if you ask.  It is the only way to be tempered to be the man you want to be, the person you have dreamed of, or the person whom you respect most in your life.  You were created to offer your strength to others.  It is a common thread that runs through all men.  You are strong, that’s not the issue.  The issue is how you use it.  Throughout history men either used it for good or evil.  They used it to free or to suppress.  They have used it to offer love, or withdraw it.  How have you used your strength?  How are you going to use your strength?  During the day, think of the wake that you have left.  What does that look like?  Ask the Lord how He wants you to change and walk with Him through that.  Remember, “what is a man who does not make the world better.”