“There is a glory to your life that the Enemy fears, and he is hell-bent on destroying that glory before you act on it.” John Eldredge, Waking the Dead
Search deep within your heart and answer this question: “What is my greatest fear?”
Is it heights? Is it depths? Is it being tragically maimed? Is it discovering you have a terminal illness? Is it the death of a loved one? Is it insignificance?
Yes, to all of those answers for me! However, I believe that none of the above is the most deadly fear for the godly man. I carry a laminated piece of paper inside my backpack that contains questions I am praying over, life quotes, as well as life verses. Basically, if it is important to me it is probably laminated. Well, except for Shanna and the boys who don’t fit in the machine!
My most recently laminated question (at the top of this page) is from the book, Waking the Dead by John Eldredge. Actually, it is one question worded two different ways.
“Where have I feared the glory? Why am I holding back?”
My short definition of glory is to bring something into the light, enhance it, or somehow draw positive praise to. One example is when we hack down a Douglas fir, haul it home on the top of our rig, and the cover it with light and decorations. Another example is the “Perseverance Buck” mounted in my office displayed for all to see his sliced ear, cut chest, four chipped points from fighting, and of course his awesome antlers!
Let’s stop here to make an observation about people and glory. Have you ever known a man who brings up the same topic every time you are around him: Sports, politics, pornography, hunting, Jesus, missions, etc? When this happens there is usually one of two reasons for it. Negatively, it is his problem. Positively, it is his passion. The long and short of all is over the past month you have worked through my life quotes and have noticed a trend. That pattern is a cord of three strands woven around my life: 1) The journey to discover biblical manhood, 2) living to my fullest, 3) and overcoming my fear of glory. This fear of glory in my life manifests itself in no other than being satisfied with mediocrity and anonymity.
My greatest fear, like many men, is the question, “What if I leave it all on the field?” I may fail, yes, but even worse than that; I may succeed. You heard me right. I may get to a place of success where people watch me, follow me, envy me, and criticize me. Maybe I am being too forthright, but someone needs to call men out who fear the glory. Our churches tell men that glory is chauvinistic, arrogant and conceited, but Jesus did not fear being noticed, Peter did not run from leading the Church, David did not hide in a cave forever, and Paul definitely feared being noticed when he confidently told the men of Philippi, “the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things (Philippians 4:9).”
We tend to fear the very things that God has planned for us. We know the program. We count the cost (Luke 14:28). But our enemy has other plans as he, “prowls around” (1Peter 5:8) like the predator he is for a way “to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10a)” the glory of God in us.
We live in a society that encourages men to cover up and hide. We applaud anonymity but this couldn’t be further from biblical truth. Humility is not anonymity. Anonymity, if fear of the glory is at its core, is nothing more than pride. God wants men to be outspoken about who He is in their lives. 1Corinthians 10: 31 tells us, “Whatever you do, do all for the glory of God.” Men need to hunger for ways to lead, shine and be examples of God’s glory.
Like high-end hunting optics we need to reflect God’s light at full capacity. His light must shine in us so that the world will see God’s fire burning bright. Our prayer should be, “God, put me on public display for You-my King!” You do not need to fear the glory. Pray for it. “Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request (1 Chronicles 4:10).”
Put me in over my head God so that I have no one else to offer up praise and glory but You!
Men need to punch our fear of glory in the face and bloody the nose of the crafty serpent that crouches at door of our heart telling us to disappear into the depths of the unknown and insignificant.
