What is a "Real Man?"

It's been some time since my last blog post, which has much to do with the leg of this journey of life that God has me in right now. The current time is 2:55am on Saturday morning, and since I was awakened unexpectedly by a phone call which was followed about 15 minutes later by a fire department call, and I don't see myself going back to sleep anytime soon, I decided to make good use of time. I have had millions of thoughts racing through my mind over the past several weeks, many of which I am honestly not ready to share yet openly. One that has been racing through my mind that was raised this morning is the issue I'd like to tackle: What is a "real man?"
Hollywood would have us believe that a "real man" is 6'8" tall with biceps as large as the average watermelon, and an ego to match them. But let's not just go after Hollywood - it has become apparent to me that many of us in the world of "church" have absolutely no idea what a "real man" is, either. I have been made aware of this due to the fact that some that are very close to me that I have been in worship times with for years have an apparent massive misunderstanding of the definition of a "real man." So I thought instead of looking at a man's attempt to define the term, we might look at God's.
First off, in Genesis 1:26, God's Word says that He created man "in His own image." That's something we all have in common as humans - we are a "triune being," that is we have a body, mind and spirit, just as God is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So we were born in His image in that respect. However, anyone that understands the concept of salvation remembers that when we come to Christ we are "born again" as Jesus said in John 3. So when that rebirth happens, Scripture tells us that we then begin the journey of being "transformed into the image of Christ." That takes this thing to a whole new level - what does it mean to look like Jesus?
Christ as God has many character traits that tell us what a "real man" is, as He was the ultimate "real man." One was compassion, therefore a "real man" has compassion. When He sees someone that has fallen, He feels their hurt to the extent that it motivates him to do what he can do to help them. So, "real man", do you want to help people? Another trait is integrity, as Jesus was the same "real man" when people were around as when people weren't. So, "real man", do you have integrity, or are you living a life of secrets having to constantly watch over your shoulder to see who's able to see what you're doing at that moment? Oh, and then there's forgiveness - Jesus even prayed for the forgiveness of those who were crucifying Him. "Real man" - are you forgiving, or do you want to get even all the time? Of all of the many traits that Jesus had that a "real man" will possess, there's just one final traitI want to mention: commitment. A "real man" honors his commitments. When Christ was on His way to the cross, it wasn't fun, and it didn't look easy, but He had committed to accomplish the mission that God the Father had given Him to accomplish. So He did. There's no other way to look at it - He just did. In a world where commitment is a joke - where it's as simple as one choice to break our commitments - where nothing is permanent, even the institution that is built on the premise of a "life long covenant" - a "real man" keeps his commitments, even when it's not easy, convenient, or he doesn't feel like it.
A "real man" will be a blessed man, according to Psalm 1, because he won't "walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers, but rather he delights himself in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night." Wow - a "real man" is a man of the Word. So "real man" - how much time do you spend in the Word on a regular basis? Does the occasional "picking up my Bible for church" constitute as "meditating day and night?"
Jesus Himself said in Luke 9:25, "What is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" A "real man" has the right priorities. The stuff of this world - the pleasures of this world - all that this world has to offer - pale in comparison to the leadership of God in his life and what God is saying to him about his life's direction. So, "real man", where are your priorities - fun, pleasure, your happiness above all else, or God's will based upon His Word?
There's one more aspect of being a "real man" that's worth mentioning in this age of promise breaking. In Ephesians 5 Paul had strong words to say about what a "real man" is. In verses 25 - 27, Paul tells us that a "real man" will love his wife as Christ loves the Church. He tells us that not only will the "real man" love her unconditionally, but that he will also look out for her well-being. That his goal for her will be nourishing her in the walk with the Lord that she has, and even being willing to sacrifice himself for her well-being if required. He goes on to say that this is the entire point of the Scripture that says, "For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh." A "real man" marries into a life-long commitment of "cleaving" - that is, to holding on for dear life to the woman God has given him, through sickness and health, poverty and wealth, good times and bad, better or worse...you get the idea. He doesn't just hold on "until he has found something better." You see, a "real man" doesn't see anything better. The one God has given him is the best in the eyes of the "real man."
So I present to you at this amazing hour of the day that there are many in this world that think that their height, weight, muscle mass, or ego size determines that they are a "real man." When they stand before God, if that's all that they've had in this life, they will be sorely disappointed when the ultimate "Real Man" says to them, "Depart from me you worker of iniquity, I never knew you." Oh, they may have thought their "manhood" gave them the ability to fight their way out of anything here. They may have been able to whoop anybody that came into their path in this world. But when faced with the reality of the very presence of the God of the universe, who they really are, and their tiny spiritual stature will be all that matters.
And to all you "little guys" out there - guys who aren't 6'8" tall, who don't have watermelon sized biceps, and certainly don't have the egos to match them - but you love the Lord with all your heart, mind, and strength: even if nobody in this world sees it, even if there don't seem to be any women that see it, and even if sometimes you don't even see it - you have no need to worry. You are a "real man." And regardless of the opinions of all those that seem to surround you - the One that you serve, the One that you'll stand before some day soon - the One that sustains you and gives you all you need in this life to serve Him - He's sees you. And believe you me - He knows what a "real man" is.

Until next time (hopefully not 3am then...),
blake

That's just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Feel free to email me anytime at pastorblakeman@yahoo.com .