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Eternal Legacy. Every man dies, but most men do not live a life and have a cause worth dying for. The Band of Brothers is a group of men who desire to live a life and to leave a legacy that has eternal meaning. We are tired, weary, and thirsty - but we are not defeated. We are willing to fight to be shining lights in the midst of the darkness. We are willing to lay down our lives for true freedom - true peace. We want to fill our thirsty souls with the love of God and God-obsession rather than sinful addictions and self-obsession - and we know this will be a viscous battle against evil. But when we get knocked down - we will get back up again and follow the light.
In this generation, the Kingdom of God is advancing against forces of evil. And all God's image-bearing children are being called by Christ our King to engage in the purpose for which we each were uniquely created. Few will choose say "Yes" to the journey of the "narrow road." But the Band of Brothers do not want to miss out on our rightful heritage as "brothers of Christ." We have pledged our lives to the mission that will echo throughout eternity. And we long to receive the eternal rewards for which we were made to receive. We are a few of the men who have said "Yes" to the call of our King Jesus Christ - to follow Him in battle - to become His disciples - and to become more like Him no matter the cost. And we are challenging other men to do the same - for we know we cannot fight this battle alone. We are crying out to other men to step up to the call and embrace their rightful heritage. The Band of Brothers is a group of men who have made the covenant with God:
- To be brothers of Christ by total surrender to Him (Luke 14:33); and
- To fully engage in the battle together with other Jonathan/David relationships.
Jesus called out to them, "Come, be my disciples ..." (Matt. 4:19)
"The Lord now chose ... other disciples and sent them on ahead in pairs...." (Luke 10:1)
So, what say you?
Offering the Brotherhood of Christ. Once we have made the decision say "Yes" to the call of our King, we then are commanded by Him to engage in the battle side-by-side with other men of God - other brothers! Our King sends his disciples out in "pairs." But few men in our generation have real and authentic, Jonathan/David type relationships with other men. Most men walk alone and carry hidden shame.
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Do you have another man in your life who knows your complete, unfiltered and uncensored story?
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When you fall to intentional sin, do you have a man in your life to whom you always confess your sins?
If the answer to either of the questions above is "no," then you are walking alone! Without being truly known, we cannot be adequately protected, fought for, nor loved. And if we walk alone, we cannot live out the heroic story for which we were created. Therefore, Satan's primary strategy is to divide and conquer. For the enemy knows that when Christian men finally unite for the causes of Christ, then the end is near. Because the power of our triune God has been bestowed in the unity of His true disciples.
Once we have made the decision to engage for Christ, no matter the cost, and once we have found other true brothers to unite with in the battles ahead, only then are we commanded to "go and make disciples of all the nations." (Matt. 28:20) There are not many of us in this Band of Brothers Ministry - we few represent a small grass roots movement. But God used only 12 men to start this revolution. And only the few will be used by God to finish the job. For “the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.” (Math. 7:14 NLT) Yes, in this generation God is raising up a small band of fully devoted, no matter the cost followers. And God will use this band to advance the Kingdom of God.
The battle will be difficult and painful, and we even could lose our very lives. But one thing is certain: first our sinful natures and our self-obsessions must be destroyed. As stated by Oswald Chambers, "Sin belongs to hell and the devil. I, as a child of God, belong to heaven and to God. It is not a question of giving up sin, but of giving up my right to myself, my natural independence, and my self-will. This is where the battle has to be fought." (My Utmost, Dec. 9) One of our brothers who finished well, the apostle Paul, said that he "faced death daily." (1 Cor. 15:31) Yes, the odds against us will feel overwhelming. But, like Paul, we refuse to live a life dominated by fear, shame, and sin. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Tim. 1:7 NLT) "We few, we happy few, we Band of Brothers" are a group of men who desire to be obedient to our King, to unite for the cause of Christ, and to trust in God's ultimate goodness. And we are not afraid to fight for the sake of righteousness.
The Great Story is Unfolding. The Lord of the Rings is a classic trilogy, but there is a larger story unfolding with this generation which involves the greatest story and trilogy of all time. Book 1 involved the creation of God's beloved, the fall of man, and the rise of bondage and evil in the world. Book 2 brought both sadness and hope. God's people were sad that our King came into the world as a servant and slave and had to die as a ransom for our lives. But we were left with great hope because of Christ's resurrection and the indwelling of the Spirit that remains with His followers.
What will happen in book 3? Will God's beloved unite with Christ to advance the Kingdom and conquer evil because of our love for Him? Which of God's image-bearers will be the "few" who choose the narrow road and engage as true brothers of Christ? What is the part you will play in this "Great War" between good and evil that will be talked about by the heavenly community for an eternity? You will not want to miss out on this adventure and your rightful place in the Royal Family! For one day all will be "judged according to the things written in the books, according to what they had done." (Rev. 20:12)
Do you feel the sense of urgency? Are you one who is being called by our King? Are you one of the "few" who will respond well? Will you be one of the men honored at the great victory celebration in heaven? This Great War will be relentless and evil at times will feel overwhelming, but we will not be alone, and our suffering and wounds will not be in vain. "He is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings, and with him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers." (Rev. 17:14 NIV) You are called, and you are chosen .... The question is, will you be a faithful servant of Christ our King?
Are you ready for a War?
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"Life is a storm. You will bask in the sunlight one moment - and be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when the storm comes. You must look into that storm and shout, 'Do your worst, for I will do mine!' Then the fates will know you as we know you - A MAN!"
- The Count of Monte Cristo
“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly…who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotions and who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have known neither victory or defeat.”
- Teddy Roosevelt
"I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, his greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear is that moment when he has to work his heart out in a good cause and he’s exhausted on the field of battle - victorious."
- Vince Lombardi
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