Who is your hero? Do you have a person you look to who has displayed courage in the face of danger, and after whom you can emulate your life? What is it about that person that is hero-worthy? What have they done, or are they doing, that causes you and others to take notice? If you don’t have a hero, find one. Is there someone in your sphere of influence that you can and should be learning from and following? If not, then who, throughout your life (maybe even looking into the past), can look to?
Once you find one, be one. Be a person who lives a life worthy to be repeated. Paul says it like this, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1) Live a life that looks like the God of the universe has saved you. Live your life in such a way that others cannot help but say, “Wow, that guy’s different, and I want to be like him.” What does this “different” life look like? Does it look like a monastic society, removing oneself from the “comforts of the world” in favor of living in communities that are separate from the rest of society? Does it mean listening to only Christian music and watching only Christian movies? Does it look like never smoking or drinking, going to a Christian school, wearing Christian t-shirts, drinking Christian water, and being known more for what you are against rather than what you are for? Let me offer you a different perspective, one that I think Paul (who said, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.” (Philippians 4:9)) would agree with, primarily because he wrote it. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all,” (Ephesians 4:2-5) and “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). This, by no stretch of the imagination or search of Biblical texts, exhausts what it means to be a follower of Christ. It does, however, paint a picture of what a “hero” of the faith looks like. Need more examples? Check out Hebrews 11, where you’ll find tons of heros of the faith.
Are you becoming a hero?
If you need another example of a hero, watch this video of a “true” hero. Laughter is a good thing.
