Looking for Heroes

Deep down, I believe all of us are looking for a hero.  We long for someone strong enough to rescue us, defend us, and be our champion.  We look for someone noble enough, virtuous enough, and consistent enough to rely on.  But our search for heroes leaves us with few, if any, options. We look to professional athletes and celebrities and find people who do some special things, even heroic things.  But there are no heroes on the field, court, or in Hollywood. We look to people in political leadership and find people caught up in a system that doesn’t allow them to be heroic.  There are no heroes in Washington DC or Lansing.

Teachers, mentors, coaches, and relatives can make a huge difference in our lives.  They are living examples of some of the best parts of humanity. But they still fall short of hero status.  My friend and Bible Scholar, Rev. Gerrit Koedoot, once said to me, “There is only one hero in the Bible.” It isn’t Abraham, Joseph, Paul, or even David.  In the search for heroes, Jesus stands alone. Only he can answer our hopes and fears. If you look for heroes anywhere besides Jesus, I promise you disappointment.  But look to Jesus and you will find the world’s one true hero.