Waking Up Men
“See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven. Whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not only the earth but also heaven. Now this, Yet once more, indicated the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.”
Hebrews 12:25-29
It is apparent that some things happen in our very midst, but we fail to realize the implications or consequences of what has happened until it is too late! This is not something new but has happened numerous times before. The greater challenge is that many of these things that have happened in the past are still overlooked in the present. Things happen over and over again, and it seems like no one learns the lessons from the consequences of previous experiences. This is a serious implication, especially for men, since they represent the foundation of humanity. God created the male-man as the foundation for all relationships, and the covering for the family. Not only is the man responsible for his family, but he also is responsible for the culture of his home. Simply put, the man cannot afford to be asleep during this season in which he is living.
The writer specifically refers to Jesus, who represented the presence and essence of who God is on the earth. The record shows that the people of that day could not escape the truth that He shared while He walked and talked with them during his lifespan as a man. It is then revealed that if mankind could not escape the truth revealed from One who lived among them, they surely will not be able to escape the power of the truth from One who now speaks from heaven. The question must be asked: “What is this discussion about in the first place? The answer is simple: the discussion is about God’s position that there are some things that cannot be shaken. This represents God as the Creator and Source of all things. In contrast, mankind seems to believe that they have the power to shake things up as they see fit. This is a dangerous position to be in since man is not the creator of anything nor the source of anything that exists on the earth today.
The present culture in which we live has opened up a discussion about masculinity attempting to discuss the issues of identity, purpose, authority, and the value of manhood. It is alarming that these conversations about manhood and masculinity are being discussed without consideration of the man himself. In addition, it is assumed that any discussion about masculinity can take place among men themselves without any consideration that man is not his own source. Put another way, these current conversations about the present plight of masculinity—whether it is toxic, benevolent, or even new—seems to overlook the original intent of the Creator of man. God created everything with a purpose. God created man from nothing, but gave him an identity, included in his identity his purpose, communicated to him what authority he had, and finally, revealed to him his value. All of this came from God who created the man.
Men must wake up! The very foundation that men represent is now being shaken. The culture is not qualified to redefine man’s purpose or alter his identity. This foundation was set in place by God Himself. The Word of God reminds us that this is a Kingdom matter that cannot be shaken by humanity. The only alternative that is available to man is to serve God in an acceptable manner with reverence and godly fear. Masculinity is not just under attack. The truth is—masculinity is endangered. This is a season for men to wake up and consider what the consequences are if this foundation is shaken. This is the moment when men must consider the implications that shaking this foundation will have on their sons, their daughters, and the family and everything that represents the intent of the Original Source when He created mankind in the first place. Wake up Men!