Do you remember the movie Troy? If you’re a guy, you probably remember the great battle scenes. If you’re a woman, remember Brad Pitts biceps. In the movie, what was Pitts’ character, Achilles, main agenda? It was making a name for himself. In his view immortality was becoming a legend, and you became a legend in his mind by creating a name for yourself. There is no doubt that Achilles was a great fighter and he definitely made a name for himself. But why were we rooting for Hector?
Lately I have slowly been (sorry) discussing how to fulfill all that God has purposed you to fulfill and by this becoming a hero who changes the world. Our key to becoming a hero and fulfilling the dreams that God has for you is to be willing to sacrifice, transform your thinking, and act. Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 to no longer be conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. The pattern of this world says it’s all about us. The pattern is to put yourselves before all others. It says you deserve this or that. It’s the American Dream. And let me point out that there is a small thread of truth here, but not if it comes at the detriment of another. But that’s not what the world say’s. Think about our current marketing schemes like the itouch, ipod, iphone, and the “have it your way” at Burger King. If you think of others comment them below.
However, if we are going to make a difference, change the world around us, and altar history then we have to die to ourselves as Jesus tells us. In fact in His words, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it (Mark 8:34, 35).” The gospel is what changes lives, but the gospel runs counter to the patterns of this world. The gospel is selfless modeled by Jesus who gave up everything for the sake of all His creation.
Hero’s are defined by moments of selflessness. So why did Hector still our heart? Because there is a divine whisper within us that cheers on selflessness. We cheer on those like Hector, Mother Theresa, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. because they have transformed their minds to loves other as themselves. Leo Tolstoy said, “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” Before we can change the world, we must transform our minds. Be the Hector and fight for your fellow mankind.
For a great devotion and further reading read Philippians 2:1-18.
It’s like NOTORIOUS B.I.G. said, “We can’t change the world unless we change ourselves”.