We find Tony Stark facing pressure on all sides in the aftermath of him revealing his identity as Iron Man. He faces pressure to turn over to the Iron Man technology to the government. The Palladium Core in the Arc Reactor that keeps Stark alive is slowly poisoning him. This leaves Stark despondent, but also reckless, not realizing that there are people in his life that would be willing to support him in his struggles.
His recklessness nearly cost him his life, while a man named Ivan Vanko attacks him with whip-like energy weapons at the Circuit de Monanco. He defeats him by the aid of portable briefcase armor. This escape from death should of been the wake-up call for Stark in his life, but instead he becomes even more reckless than ever before. In what he thinks is his final birthday party, Stark gets drunk while using the Iron Man armor, forcing Rhodes to intervene.
We, like Stark, when facing pressure, can have tendencies to face struggles all on our own. We become convinced in our minds that we can do it all alone, but the truth is, we need each other. Galatians 6:2, says “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. “ The law of Christ can be summarized in John 13:34-35, which reads: “A new command I give you, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
When we love each other, we help point it each other to Christ. As we carry each other burdens, we become less self-centered, and more Christ centered, and we find a purpose beyond ourselves.
Nick Fury, S.H.E.L.D’s director, approaches Stark after his birthday party at a donut shop of all places. Stark is still arrogant enough to think he has it all together, but Fury calls him out for his arrogance. He finds a way to help Stark by giving him some of his father (Howard Stark)’s old material from the 1974 Stark Expo. It is through this material, he finds structure of a new element to help power his suit.
However, the most important message that catches him off guard is his message to him directly. He calls him to see that he has value and significance and that he can change the world. He ends by saying, “What is and always will be, my greatest creation is you.”
This encouragement from his late father, along with the structure of the element for his suit, helps him to face Vanko with the help of his closest friends. He realizes that to face the pressures he faces he needs others. He finds in facing those pressures, he can find peace and purpose in ways he never expected on his own.
Sometimes the first realization in realizing we cannot face life alone is from looking at those who have gone before us. In Hebrews 11, we find what many consider the Hall of Fame of faith. It is filled with those who walked by faith in the middle of pain, and found God standing there besides them.
The author of Hebrews says in light of all this: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith… Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3)
After we have looked at those who gone before us, we can take a look around and see the community of faith God has given us. It will take us taking a step of vulnerability and honesty, admitting our struggles. It is through taking that step, we will find that it is through our brokenness, we are made whole. We are made whole as we bring the darkness of our lives to the light of Christ. There is no better way for that to be done than through community.
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