Have you ever read a book that resonated so closely to your own life that you wondered if the author was watching your life? That’s kind of how I felt while reading James Rubart’s book, The Man He Never Was. This book hit pretty close to home, and brought some truths to light that I need to stop and think about in a little more depth.
The book is about a former NFL star, Toren Daniels, who suddenly reappears after being missing for eight months. Where he has been and what has happened to him is a mystery, but one thing is clear. His deepest struggle, his ability to control his anger, is gone. He is a new man, it seems.
But the search to find just how this has happened is what this book is all about. And it is a fascinating story. Even though it is fiction, it grabbed me and pulled me into the light of some truths that I haven’t quite grasped in such a way before. One of those truths is this: No matter what my sin may be, anger and rage in Toren Daniel’s case, there is no way any of my own efforts are going to be able to fix it. Sin can only be eradicated by the sacrifice that was made for that purpose; it can only be conquered by Jesus.
The second truth I need to dig into a bit deeper is the idea of my dual nature. Jesus died for my sin, and my sinful nature has been put to death. But the good side of me? That’s been put to death as well. I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Both side of my nature, the good and the bad, have to die so that Christ can live in and through me. Because even my best efforts at good aren’t good enough.
This is a work of fiction. But the truth it communicates is very real, and it is something that we all need to understand. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. You need to read this, and I wouldn’t put it off. You may be surprised at just how impactful it will be.
Ratings & Details For The Man He Never Was:
- Genre/Style: Christian Fiction
- Story/Plot: 10 of 10 stars
- Spiritual Content: 10 of 10 stars
- Readability/Flow: 10 of 10 stars
- Cover: 10 of 10 stars
- Overall Rating: 10 of 10 stars
Question: How do you view the dual nature of your life, the good side and the bad side? How does that compare with what Scripture says about our lives, and our greatest need? What do you need to do about that? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
I received this book free from Harper Collins Christian Publishing as part of their BookLook Bloggers review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.