To Follow A Star
Do we have what it takes to be Don Quixote? You may say what does Don Quixote have to do with being a Christian? In the movie the man from La Mancha, the aged Alonso Quixano pictured himself as a warrior knight dressed in full armor riding on a horse throughout the land calling himself the noble Don Quixote.
We want to take a look at what was the quest, that dream, that drove this man, at least in his mind, to be so determined to never stop looking, never stop fighting evil, to revive chivalry and to serve his country. Let’s first take a closer look by using the song written by Joe Darion from the movie, and then we will get to the point of the matter.
“To dream … the impossible dream … To fight … the unbeatable foe …
To bear … with unbearable sorrow … To run … where the brave dare not go …
To right … the unrightable wrong … To love … pure and chaste from afar …
To try … when your arms are too weary … To reach…the unreachable star
This is my quest, to follow that star …
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far …
To fight for the right, without question or pause …
To be willing to march into hell, for a heavenly cause…
And I know if I’ll only be true, to this glorious quest,
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm, when I’m laid to my rest …
And the world will be better for this: That one man, scorned and covered with scars,
Still strove, with his last ounce of courage,
To reach the unreachable star”
Let’s go through each line: To dream the impossible dream. As Believers we know first of all that nothing is impossible for God as Matthew 19:23-26 tells us, “ThenYeshua said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Yeshua looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
To fight the unbeatable foe: As believers we too have a foe to fight. As Jude 3 tells us, “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”
1 Timothy 6:12, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
Though our advisory is not windmills, our foe is real and he is out to destroy us, but not like Don Quixote, we will have the victory over our foe. 1 Peter 5:8-9 says this, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.”
Again Romans 8:37 says, “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.”
Like Don Quixote we too have armor to wear. Ephesians 6:10-18 tells us, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”
We will one day ride on white horses as Revelation 19:11-14 tells us, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.”
To bear with unbearable sorrow: As believers we know that we will have sorrows caused by our trials and tribulations. James 1:2-4 tells us, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
Though we may have sorrows we know that we have the victory in Him who has conquered all things on our behalf as John 16:33 tells us. “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
And again in Romans 8:18 it tells us this, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
To run where the brave dare not go: Hebrews 12:1-3 compares the believer to a runner running a race. “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
We fight a spiritual battle that takes us to the gates of hell as Matthew 16:18 tells us, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Matthew 24:12-13 speaks to us about the victory if we endure the battle. “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.”
So you say what does this have to do with anything? This is the point, do you have a quest that compels you to achieve it? 1 Corinthians 9:16 tells us this about Paul. “For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!”
Are you willing to follow Yeshua? To go where no other will go? Will you love the unlovable? When you are weary, will you continue to do good?
As Galatians 6:9 tells us, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Will you carry the one who is weak as Romans 15:1-3 asks us to, “We who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak and not please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Messiah did not please Himself. But as it is written, ‘The insults of those who insulted You fell on Me.’”
Like the Magi that followed the star to find the child King, even though it took them so far and seemed so hopeless, will you too, continue? Will you continue your walk with the Lord when things become long and hard, when there will be trials and tribulations and unspeakable sorrows, will you continue the work of the Lord? Will you continue to contend for the faith and fight the good fight without hesitation even if it means sorrow at the least and death at the most? Are you willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause to save a lost soul as Jude 22-23 tells us “And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.”
If we are willing then like Don Quixote we can say, “And I know if I’ll only be true, to this glorious quest, that my heart will lie peaceful and calm, when I’m laid to my rest … And the world will be better for this: That one man, scorned and covered with scars, Still strove, with his last ounce of courage to reach, (not the unreachable star)”, but the star that shone that night that leads all men, not to a baby, but to a King, our King, the Messiah Yeshua. It is because of Him that we must continue on no matter how far, no matter how hard, no matter what comes our way. Then we will fulfil our quest. Then we will receive our reward.
2 Timothy 4:8, “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
Today, pick up your cross, put on your armor, as you go on your quest to follow the Lord Yeshua.
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