How many of you have had a childhood hero; someone you looked up to, and aspired to be like? I certainly did. I was quite a dreamer in my formative years. Aside from my dad, who was my first and most important hero, I tended to idolize TV personalities like Roy Rogers, the Lone Ranger, and of course, the King of the Jungle, Tarzan. In my way of thinking, these larger than life specimens of manliness and sense of right and wrong, could put any nefarious “bad guy” in his proper place whenever it became necessary. That was important to me at the time. Since I was scrawny and diminutive, I could always think of a half dozen bullies I’d like to straighten out if only I were like one of my heroes. After all, my secret mentors could do no wrong. They always knew what to do.
However, as I matured I came to understand that people everywhere are all basically the same; they are all flawed; they all make mistakes; they all have quirks. I’m not saying that there’s no one who can serve as a worthy pattern in one’s life, but rather that one must allow for the humanness of the pattern, whoever they might be. On the whole, human beings may eventually disappoint or fail us in some way. For all our respect and fondness of someone, the wise Christian will do well to steer clear of “hero worship.”
There are very few real heroes to look up to these days. Many look up to athletes, only to discover that rather than being the role models they appear to be, they have propped themselves up with steroids, marijuana, or other harmful substances.
Others may look up to actors or actresses; mistakenly thinking they’ve got it all together. It’s not uncommon, however, to learn that one’s idol is more about hoopla and hype than hero qualities. Many idols turn out to be self-centered, selfish and rude individuals with far worse issues than the admirer, himself.
Having said that, there is one pattern for the Christian’s life that will never lead him in the wrong direction; that will never fail or disappoint. There is one hero that we should worship and adore from the depths of our hearts—the Lord Jesus Christ, who was “…in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15b). Need someone to pattern your life after? Then look to Jesus. The Word of God says, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).
The late Adrian Rogers stated this idea well with the following:
There has never been a man like the Lord Jesus. John Phillips wrote these words about Jesus that deeply stirred me. He said, “He never uttered a hasty, unkind, untrue, or frivolous word. He never entertained an impure thought. His talents never debased for selfish ends. His influence, never bad. His judgment, never wrong. He never had to apologize for anything that He did or retract a single word He said, He was never too late or too soon, never upset, never insipid, never shallow or afraid…He had absolute victory from the moment He drew his first breath in that Bethlehem barn until the moment He closed His eyes in death on the cross of Calvary.”
If you’re looking for a hero, let me suggest mine. His name is Jesus.1
1Love Worth Finding Ministries with Adrian Rogers, Daily Devotional, Copyright © 2006, Love Worth Finding Ministries ®, All Rights Reserved.
