Hero. Seems to be the hot topic of the week. Heroes are big in our culture. We have sports heroes, military heroes, police & fire fighter heroes, and even comic book heroes. Is someone a hero or aren’t they a hero? We tend to throw the word around a lot just like we do a lot of other words and titles.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives a few definitions of “hero”: a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability; an illustrious warrior; a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities; one who show great courage. It’s even used to describe a sandwich. Only humans could describe those who have valiantly served in combat, a first responder that rushes into a burning building, Superman, Batman and turkey with mayo with the same word.
I think heroes are important and needed. We definitely need people who are courageous and willing to live with noble character. But at the same time, we have to be cautious. We can’t just label everything as “heroic”, can we? Have we lowered our standards so much that what we used to consider as expected or typical behavior now is heroic? When someone calls themselves a hero, do we just accept it?
I cringe when someone calls themselves a hero. Shouldn’t humility and modesty be characteristics of a hero? What about calling someone out as not being a hero? Honestly, that makes me cringe too. So it seems that even on this subject, we are caught up arguing about something that is taking our focus off of what is truly important.
What does the Bible say about heroes? I think we all think of the “Heroes of the faith” in Hebrews 11. How could we say that Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and so many others are not heroes?
From the limited research I have done, the word “hero” doesn’t appear in the Bible. The word wasn’t used until the 14th century according to the dictionary. That surprised me.
However, there is a word used in the Bible that translates into “Godly Hero.” That word is EL GIBBOR (from the root word, GEBER). It is used in Isaiah 9:6. It is usually translated “Mighty God,” but more exactly, it is “Powerful Champion” or “Godly Hero.” (From the book Courage, pg. 162).
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
Jesus is our true hero.
King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Humble Servant.
History is full of kings that demanded their subjects give their lives for their king. Yet our King left His throne, humbly came to earth to be born in a manger to eventually die on a cross. Our King gave His life for His people. Not for a single sin He committed. But for every sin I have and will commit. For every sin of yours. For every sin of everyone.
In a world obsessed with hero worship, Jesus is the only hero we should ever worship.
So while this world argues over who is and who isn’t a hero, there should be no argument among the followers of Christ. If we lived our lives to glorify Christ, how different of a world would this be? When our days are finished, will our families consider us heroes of the faith?
May we run to the cross as if our lives depended on it.