What It Takes To Be a Man's Man: If You Aim At Nothing You are Sure to Hit It

September, 2004

by: Walt Bertelsen

Little boys give little thought to what it takes to be a man — they just know they want to be like Daddy, or some other hero. Adolescent boys don't have a clue about what a real man is — they just want to prove to their peers that they are. Adult boys often give up trying to find out what makes a genuine man's man — they finally settle for living life for themselves.

What is a man? What does it take? How do you “get there from here?”

The first step in getting there is knowing what “there” is. We all need a clear picture of what a man is. If we don't, we'll never know if we're there. Someone said, “If you aim at nothing, you're sure to hit it.”

God's picture of a real man is Jesus Christ. He was the true man's man. You may be picturing the glorified, risen Son. I'm talking about the man, Christ Jesus, as He lived on earth, as He set us an example to follow in His steps (1 Pet 2.21-24). Becoming like Christ is God's objective for you on this earth.

Could you imagine what that would look like around here…?

Scripture says that God is making all things work together for your good, for His purpose in predestination is to conform you to the image of His Son — to make you like Jesus (Rom 8:28,29). This is not only in eternity, but now, as Paul said (2 Cor 3:18): you are being transformed into the image of Christ. So Christlikeness is God's future aim for you, and His present activity in you.

It is also a present command. You are to imitate Christ (1 Cor 11:1) and live like Him (1 Jn 2:6).

When you're facing temptation, you may find yourself saying: “Jesus couldn't really know what I'm going through. After all, He was different — the virgin birth, all those miracles, all that supernatural knowledge — He is God. Me be like him? Get real!”

This is reality. God, who made us, knows us, and set His love upon us, sent His Son, “born in the likeness of men” (Phil 2:7). Jesus on earth was fully man. In spite of the miraculous stuff, (given to validate his identity and mission), He grew up and lived as a man, just like you. He worked, got tired, hungered, loved, wept, was astonished at people's faith and lack of faith, and finally, died.

You need to know that, even though Jesus could never sin, nevertheless His temptation was real. We don't know the full force of temptation like He does — He never gave in like we do (Heb 2:18; 4:15). Some say, “to sin is to be human.” If that were true, then Jesus could not have been really human (since He couldn't sin), and it would make God the author of sin in us. Remember, Adam before the fall was human.

So, gentlemen (and women), this is God's aim for your life, that you become like Jesus Christ, the man's Man. He is not only the visible image of the invisible God, but also the visible image of what God intends a man to be like. This is what sanctification (becoming holy) is all about: not some vague spiritual thing, but becoming like Christ. You are standing before God in the righteousness of Christ. And you grow into His likeness by grace in dependence upon His power. This is God's intention. Is it yours?