By: Denny

Everyone needs a hero. The dictionary defines a hero as having these character traits: great strength or abilities, brave, courageous, fearless, daring, dauntless, gallant, valiant, stalwart, a person admired for their achievements and qualities. We often think a hero is someone who fights for what is right and good. They rescue and defend the helpless. They sacrifice themselves and risk their lives and are willing to die for what they believe. Heroes can be people, animals, or fictional characters. Every generation has had their heroes. Growing up we used to watch Saturday morning cartoons featuring such renown heroes as Mighty Mouse, Underdog, and Rocky and Bullwinkle. LOL Who can forget Lassie, Rin-Tin-Tin, Flipper the dolphin, or Gentle Ben the bear. Batman, Superman, and Zorro were caped crusaders who always showed up when needed. Popeye was an ordinary sailor man who when he ate spinach (seriously, couldn’t they have chosen something better) immediately gained great strength to rescue his beloved Olive Oyle from Brutus. Likewise, Dudley Do-right was always rescuing Nell from the clutches of the villainous Snidely Whiplash. Westerns were popular featuring the heroics of the Lone Ranger, Roy Rogers, John Wayne, and Sky King. If you do not know who he was ask Siri, she knows. Gradually the portrayal of heroes drifted from actual people to fictional characters who each possessed a unique single power. The list is too numerous, and more are being continually added. As a kid it’s fun to imagine yourself having those kinds of powers to do heroic deeds, but that’s not reality. Far too many younger people live in a virtual fantasy world. I think TV, movies, video games, and other media exaggerates, misrepresents, and overplays the idea of what a true hero is.

I have had many people in my life who I consider to be heroes and I wanted to emulate. None of them became famous and gained a huge following. My dad was a truck driver. I had fond memories of riding with him sometimes as a kid. I wanted to be just like him and see far away places. He was my hero and taught me how to be a good truck driver. He corrected me when I made mistakes and praised me for doing things right, because he wanted me to be better than he was. In 1987 I penned a poem called “Just Like My Dad” and dedicated it to him. My Uncle Raymond Klaus was another such person. I spent a few summers on his farm in my early formative teen years. My cousin Leland was fifteen years older than me, and I looked up to him also. They had three farms plus they did custom combining and silo filling. Uncle Raymond was always cheerful, kind, and compassionate. I never once heard him swear or get angry even in situations when others came unglued. At the age of nine he lost his left arm in a farm accident and wore a prosthetic arm with a hook. He never complained and could do the work of two men, often before sunrise to late at night. I developed a work ethic being on the farm and that a hard day’s work helped build character. Raymond was never in a hurry. Though there was no end to the work to do, every morning after breakfast he led his family in Bible reading and prayer. I came to enjoy those moments and they had enormous influence on my life. He was a man of God who honored Jesus with his life, a life that spanned ninety-seven years. In honor of their 50^th anniversary I composed a poem entitled “50 Golden Years” for my Uncle Raymond and Aunt Rhea. Other heroes in my life who deserve mention are Jim and Sandi Nunes. They were my first pastors after I was saved in 1983. I consider them to be my spiritual mom and dad. They had no children and symbolically adopted me as a son. They contributed the most in my growth in Christ, His Word, and training for ministry. Many of my writings and values are an outflow of their input into my life. I also authored a poem for Sandi called “Mom” honoring her on Mother’s Day 1985.

This is just my opinion, but as a dad or mom you should be the hero your kids want to be like. No one is perfect and we all make mistakes, but that does not disqualify or define what a true hero is. The bible is full of people who were great heroes despite their flaws. Hebrews chapter eleven lists many of them and the things they accomplished. They were ordinary people like you and me, yet it was their faith in God whereby they did extraordinary heroic acts. Sometimes the greatest heroic action a person can do is to stand for truth and not compromise your Biblical values and faith in Almighty God. You see, being a hero is not only about what you can do but is also about what you choose not to do. Think about that.

You may think it strange, but God has heroes too. In fact, Heaven is full of heroes. Its entrance is obtained solely by faith and not works as stated in Ephesians 2: 8-9 and Hebrews 11:6. We often see and hear in the news how a certain individual is being honored or rewarded for a single heroic act, which is well-deserved and commendable. How is it then that the heroic actions of Jesus Christ who laid down His life for the saving of all humanity is belittled, slighted, or even rejected by so many these days. They would rather create their own heroes to their own liking and imitate them. It borders on idol worship. So, you want to be a superhero and possess great powers? The greatest and first action you need to take is by faith believe and accept that Christ died for you on the cross, ask forgiveness for your sins and repent, and take up your cross and follow Him. The cross was an instrument of death and suffering. We are not supposed to drag a literal cross around everywhere we go, but are you willing to bear the reproach, ridicule, rejection, and suffering to be God’s hero? The rewards Heaven promises can only be realized and found in and through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus himself says in John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”  After Jesus rose from the dead and before He ascended to Heaven, he said he would send the Holy Spirit who would fill and empower all who would believe and receive Him. As it says in Daniel 11:32b “The people who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits (heroic actions).” If you are looking for a hero to emulate, look to Jesus. By so doing, you may very well become the hero to a kid who will come to know the Savior as they observe your life. Plastic action figures and visual heroes might be okay for kids to play with and imitate, but eventually when life smacks them down, they will need a hero or heroine with skin on to guide and rescue them. Whose hero will you be?