"One Hero"
While many act heroically on the pages of Scripture and in all human experience, only one true Hero shines forth as the source and power of all true nobility.
"Without Me, ye can do nothing…. That in all things He might have the preeminence" (John 15:5; Colossians 1:18).
If we had opportunity to converse with Abraham, Joshua, Rahab, Caleb, Ruth, David, Daniel, Peter, John, Paul and other Biblical figures, we would do well to affirm the self sacrificial devotion to God and others exhibited during their earthly lifetimes. These and many others responded to their Lord's moving within their hearts by faith, giving of themselves and often their very lives to do the will of God. In the sixteenth chapter of Romans, Paul commended twenty seven brothers and sisters who blessed him by their love for God and people (Romans 16:1-16). Thus, we do no harm to the glory of God by encouraging fellow believers who exemplify the Lord Jesus Christ to us, and quietly act in terms of unselfish heroism by their devotion.
Nevertheless… nevertheless the wellspring of all goodness and greatness exhibited in human beings originates not in ourselves, but in the one true Hero of human history:
"He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath saith, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38).
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).
Where we see true devotion to God and others, we see the Lord Jesus. He dwells and walks in those who trust Him, inspiring, motivating, guiding, and empowering nobility of character, attitude, word, and deed. Apart from His Spirit's moving within us, and also of imparting the light of goodness and greatness even among unbelievers, the tooth and the claw would govern all human behavior. Adam's first offspring Cain slew his own brother Abel, foreshadowing the bloody history of humanity that continues to this day. Unselfish heroism is not the basic nature of human flesh. When we see it, we are seeing Christ, whether in His direct presence among the faithful, or in His indirect influence upon unbelievers. "That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9).
Our admiration for heroism, while properly affirmed to those who walk its paths, must always remind us of the source and power of all virtuous nobility. The Hero dwells and walks among the pages of Scripture, and along the pathways of human experience. We glory in the Lord Jesus, and anytime we see true devotion to God and others, we witness His Spirit's moving upon the face of human hearts. Yes, many acts of heroism grace the annals of Scripture and of human history, sacrifices to be commended and remembered. But only one Hero…
"He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."
(II Corinthians 10:17)
"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth, that every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
(Philippians 2:10-11)
Weekly Memory Verse
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.
(II Peter 1:2)
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