Article 4-5-08 "The Invisible Man"
Do you remember the movie years ago titled "The Invisible Man?" It was one of those cheap science-fiction flix that was great back then, but now it appears amateurish. I can still see the hat, glasses, and the smoke coming from the cigarette as the invisible man enjoyed his new ability to avoid anyone he did not want to face. We all thought how would it be to be able to hide from enemies, play tricks on our friends, all the while invisible. We could avoid responsibilities, run from our creditors, have access to anything we desired and get away with crimes. Of course, this is all science-fiction.
After preaching for over 30 years, I am looking at a situation that is not science-fiction. I am looking at homes where the "man" is absent. Oh, he is there all right, but only visible when he wants to be. He appears when it is convenient or when he chooses, but quickly runs from responsibility. In some cases, you can see the evidence of his presence. In other cases, you can bearly see anything that would verify his presence.
Of course, you think I am kidding and maybe using this as an analogy may be a stretch, but there is an epedemic of "Invisible Men." Men absent in the life of their children, men absent in spiritual things, men absent from their reponsbilities in the home. What has happened to the men? Where are they in the home? Why are our homes in trouble? Why are so many women raising childen by themselves? Why are so many children lost in their direction and looking for something or someone to give them some hope? The epidemic of the "Invisible Man" is a good place to start.
Let's start with what God intended for the man. Man was created by God and placed in the Garden of Eden. He was given the responsibility to keep the garden and all creation was under his domain. He named the animals, watched over God's creation, and at the end of the day, fellowshipped with God in the cool of the evening.
God saw man was lonely and made him a helpmeet called "woman." Out of his side, he took a rib and created this marvelous creature who would fulfill man's every need in this beautiful garden. Man now had God as his Creator, woman as his completer, and creation as his responsibility. Life was good until sin entered the garden. Everything changed. Man was exiled from the garden and condemned to a life of death and pain.
Now man must die and face eternity with the fact that he lost it all and only by the mercy of God can he once again fellowship with God in peace and harmony. Sin not only drove man from the garden, but it drove him from his responsibilities. He not only left God, but he left his duties and his love. His life of sin is filled with broken promises to God and his "woman." Man not only became unfaithful to God, but he became unfaithful to his "woman." For centuries now, he has forsaken his spiritual relationship, his human relationships and both together have caused man to come to the acceptation of the lie of Satan that fed his "woman." He has been filled with pride and now it is all about him and what his needs and desires are. Man who is fallen, no longer seeks the welfare of his "woman", nor does he seek the fellowship of his God, but instead this "invisible man" that hid from God in the God is now hiding from God in the home. Now it not only God who is wondering where "Adam" is, but the "woman" and her children are crying, "where art thou?"
Man has become invisible in the home. His time is spent on a career. He hides behind the lie that he wants his children and wife to have the best of everything, so he must work harder to make more money. He wants to enjoy his money and success. So everyone will have to accept the fact that Dad is not going to be visible in the hom.
Dad will not be present when its time to pray, because he is still at work. Dad will not be there for Bible study, for Dad will be on the golf course with his work associates. Dad will not be present for the first steps, the first words, his first day at school, his first haircut, and numbers of other firsts, because he is working.
This invisible man has managed to escape birthday parties, ballgames, school activities, shopping trips, doctor visits, and multitudes of other family functions. Now don't misunderstand, the man is supposed to work and provide, and because of that, there are some things that he will not be able to attend and be present for. But even though he is absent, he must be involved. This invisible man is totally disconnected from the family.
This invisible man has succeeded in avoiding his spiritual duties of the home. He is absent as the spiritual leader. He lets the "woman" take the spiritual duties. She can pray and read the Bible with the kids. She can take the kids to church and she can get them involved in church activities. The invisible man may show up "occasionally", but will not get too involved. He cannot afford to let down his guard and hinder his ability to continue to climb the social ladder.
The modern day invisible man does not train the young boys on how to grow up and become a man. The invisible man is void of ethics, loyality, patriotism, and faithfulness. The invisible man does not live a life of compassion and sacrifice, but instead lives in a world where it is all about him and his needs and desires. The invisible man wants what he wants, gets what he wants and does not care how or who he has to step on to get it. The invisible man is wrapped up in a materialistic world full of pleasure, money, sex, and gratification.
The invisible man appears in various places in the home on a regular basis. He can usually be found on Sundays behind the big-screen TV watching the latest sports feature. If he is not in a sport's bar on Monday evening, he will be in the home in his favorite chair watching Monday night football. He can be found on Saturdays in the driveway spending time on the love of his life-his car. He can be seen on certain occasions like February 14th, and possibly Thanksgiving and Christmas. But most of the other days, he again becomes invisible.
The invisible man is hard to find in many homes. Over two-thirds of all the children live in homes without their dads. Their absence has made such an impact on this generation that we are watching the negative results in our children, churches, and in this nation as a whole. Violence in schools, on the streets, and in the homes are all a reflection on the seriousness of the problem. The invisible man has left a void in this nation and we will never fully understand all the negative results until we get to eternity.
Where art thou? Man, where are you? Where are you when your children come home from school? Man, where are you when your girls are making out in the back seats of someone's car? Man, where are you when your boys are looking at pornography on the internet? Man, where are you when your little girls are talking on chat rooms with men three times their age? Man, where are you when your children are listening to rock music that glorifies suicide, sex, violence, satanism, and rebellion in their bedrooms at night? Man, where are you when your kids are watching programs on TV that are filled with scenes of homosexuality, immorality, drinking, and perversion? Man, where are you when your children are hanging with the wrong crowd? Man, where are you when your wife is flirting with another man on the job? Man, where are you when your children need someone to talk to? Man, where are you when your family is sitting in church? Man, where are you when your wife turns to the internet for companionship? Man, where are you when spiritual decisions are made? Man, where are you when your kids ask questions about God and the Bible? Man, where are you when God is looking for someone to serve him? Man, where are you when God calls someone to take a stand?
How about it Sir? Have you become the invisible man? God meant for the man to be present and visible in the home and in His kingdom. The family needs a leader. The Church needs some men. Our nations needs some real men. Our children needs some visible men. Not just a "support check" in the mail. Not just a voice on the other end of the phone. Not just a birthday card. Not just a present or gift at Christman. Our children need a Father, a real man present in their lives showing them how to ride the bicycle, how to climb trees, how to hit a baseball, how to build a bird house, or how to tie your shoes. Our "women" need husbands who will provide for them financially, protect them physically, lead them spiritually, and build them emotionally. They need a real man to comfort, lead, instruct, answer their questions, calm their fears, and give them love that is supernatural.
Where are you man? Can we see you with your children? Can we see you in the home providing daily leadership? Can we see you at Church leading them toward God? Can we see you in the prayer closet interceeding for your family? Can we see you in the community testifying to the grace of God? Can we see you standing for your faith in this sin cursed world? How about it Sir? Are you visible?
Where art thou? Is God looking for you? Is your wife looking for you? Are your children looking for you? More than anything else, are you looking for you? Have you lost yourself? In the fog of your selfish desires, have you lost yourself? The answer is in God. God sees you and He knows where you are. He knows what you need. He knows what it will take to make you whole again. Quit hiding and running. The things you desire in the end will never satisfy you. Only Christ can satisfy your soul. Your children need you. Your wife needs you. Your community needs you. God needs you. We need you. Where art thou?
Written By: Dr. David Harrison