I, like most, have my share of heroes and heroines. These people, some well known, others to me, well known because of their distinguished ability, courage, personal integrity, brave deeds (shown toward me or others) and noble character traits, are people I admire. I have discovered they deserve a great deal of my respect for the honorable things they do. Each of us have our list of those who fit into each category of hero/heroine for many reasons.
There are some individuals that seem to capture the eyes of many, and those are mostly garnered by their level of fame attached to some public activity as they seemingly rise, head and shoulders above the rest. Such was the fate of Lance Armstrong, and even Tiger Woods. I need say nothing more to you, probably, except their names and you should certainly know of what I speak. Let's face it, they join a host of heroes with chinks in their armor. Every hero/heroine we choose to elevate to such status has shortcomings, and the cost of these chinks in their armor can devastate their standing. Human weakness is found in all of us. The consequence of human pride pressures and prods, us to become what we are not. There is consequence to yielding or distracting the hero/heroine to be bigger and better than who they are. Yielding to just one weakness can open the door to the destruction of character, devastating all they worked for and attained.
Heroes are human, and that humanness is found in each of us, each of them. It is miserable to watch a hero(ine) fall; Heartbreaking; Deflating. It happens to many heroes. Their drive to remain at the top, or their confidence at the top expose a weakness found in every human, the godlike character pressed into each, for we are created in God's image. There are consequences for such failures. The burden of the magnitude and significance of failures and fraud to be fully loaded on the shoulders of the bleeding hero(ine). Do they deserve forgiveness? Absolutely. If we were in their shoes, would we fall to the same temptation and failure? Probably. Should the consequences of their failures be erased? Absolutely not.
When people ask me why I believe the Bible true, one of the reasons is exposed in this post. If you take the time to read the Bible, you will discover the heroes of faith also had chinks in their armor, real weaknesses and real failures. Clearly depicted in the Biblical accounts are the successes and failures of heroes of faith, and there were consequences for their failures. Moses, Abraham, David, Paul, Peter and the cadre of heroes of faith made mistakes and they are written clearly for all of us to see. What provides this soul great comfort is to also recognize that our God provides forgiveness for each, but holds into account the consequences for the waywardness of each, with the potential for restoration should their heart turn and return to God. Don't believe me? Read it for yourselves, in the Bible.
What then, makes them remain heroes? For every hero(ine) it is found in how they respond to the failure. A brokenhearted hero, rediscovering humility, caught in the aftermath of deception can remain a hero. The consequence? Everything they worked for along with that which gave them hero(ine) status, becomes tainted and compromised. If they learn and accept the loss and tainted status, they are to be forgiven, should they ask for forgiveness. The consequence(s) will fall where they must. At some point, who they were and what they accomplished will stand, but that fateful turn of events, even a single failure, will color it all, forever.
I do have one hero who rises and stands above all. He was fully human and fully God. No one, though they tried, could point out a chink in His armor. No one stands and fits the foretelling of His arrival several thousand years prior. No one parsed scriptures as He. No other could hold claim to living an absolutely perfect life, one that even His siblings could attest as perfect. He, being fully God, did not consider it something to be grasped but submitted Himself, his will as part of the Trinity; God, Himself (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit. He never failed. He performed powerful healing. He walked our world as a shining example of holiness and purity. And, He was offered as sacrifice for all of us who fall short.
All of our heroes are, after all, fully human. Created in the image of God as ascribed in scripture, we desire to be like Him, the ruler of our lives, looked up to by the entirety of humanity. A few, like Mother Theresa, rise to the masses as one who deserves hero(ine) status. The difference? Some, like her, come to see a more complete image of God. Not the arrogant or fame seeking God, for He is neither. His character is forged in grace but offset with righteous judgement. He offers forgiveness but holds us to account for the good of our, and other, souls. He can provide the healing and restoration only if we learn from our failures, our sins, if you would. Indeed, our heroes are fully human, except one. Jesus was fully human, but also fully God. Plenty of people have tried to deface, expose some sort of fraud, ruin His hero status, but nothing sticks to Him, making Jesus the only being whose life can stand and atone for our failures, our weaknesses, our shortcomings.
I know I have one hero who will never let me down; never fail to be who He claimed, always point this heart to the heart of His Father unleashing His power through His true children (those who portray more of God's true nature and character) today and throughout history. Jesus really lived. He really lived and unencumbered, pure and perfect life. He and all of scripture demonstrate clearly who is God and what a real and loving God does for His lost children. You see, Jesus was human, fully human and fully God.
All my heroes are human...except one, Jesus being fully human and fully God. Many of my heroes are such because they espouse the character and nature of the God of the universe. They turned away from their exposed failures returning to living lives that again speak of God's divine nature; His self sacrificing grace and love for we who wander; His desire that none should perish. I have found only one to have pure, complete noble character, God, one whose courage and ability speak and reveal perfectly honorable character, Jesus, and one who reveals and answers my quest for truth and wisdom, the Holy Spirit. You see, heroes are only human...except one...Jesus. He alone was fully human, but live a fully God. What about your heroes? What value find you in they? Are their values worth establishing them as real heroes?
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