I Want to be Legendary

This is starting to get bad. It happens to me each time I watch a new movie or read a new book. My films of choice? Sci-fi, fantasy, action-adventure. And in those films we follow a main character who overcomes, perseveres, overpowers and conquers the day against immeasurable odds. And I want to do it too.

My latest adventure? AVATAR. It was truly epic, sci-fi, action-adventure, fantasy all rolled into one. There were clear lines of good and evil, and I was openly rooting against the humans. I wanted to be there, to experience the planet of Pandora. I wanted to take part in the struggle. To overcome, persevere and conquer. But I think it was all for the wrong reasons.

God has created me, really, men in general, to have a deep desire to protect his family and provide for them. He's given all of his children the deep desire to protect the innocent, speak up for the voiceless, help the helpless. We all are to take a stand for the broken, forgotten, unborn and unloved. But His way of doing it is so NOT Hollywood.

Christ says we must serve if we want to lead. If we want to be the greatest we must become the least. We are to lay our lives down, take up our cross and follow Him into self-sacrifice. That doesn't jive at all with my inner desire for the legendary. I've been studying this part of myself for years now, and I think I know what's behind it. I am. It's the drive for ME to be great, so the world will see ME and admire ME and say all kinds of epic things about my amazingness... my legend. It must not be this way.

We are in a fight already. We've been told so in Ephesians. Our epic battle is raging today, and it began one fateful day in a utopian garden with a rule, a serpent, a fruit and a choice. We do have a part to play. I just can't look to Hollywood to define my role, because this isn't a battle like any we've ever seen portrayed.

EPHESIANS 6: 10-18 (NLT)

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

The tools are ours to use. We're being called to an epic battle. And to leave behind our desire for the legendary.