Heroes
I. Introduction
William Wallace, John Wayne, The Nature Boy Rick Flair, Wonder Woman, Harriet Tubman, Superman, the soldiers we remember on this Memorial Day who ran towards danger instead of away. All bigger than life heroes that grace our screens or history books.
The writer of Hebrews takes time to talk about and point out heroes. The Bible scholars in the crowd will know that an entire chapter (11) is given to recognizing and celebrating heroes of the faith. Otherworldly people like Abraham, Samson, Gideon and more. No super powers but super faith. So, these men and women have subsequently filled the lessons of Sunday School classes and sanctuary sermons.
However, then in Hebrews 12, this same writer shifts his attention from these icons and throws the hero challenge at our feet. He says it like this . . .
Text: Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.
Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.
I am glad the writer addresses us because if we are not careful we tend to overlook the everyday heroes because our attention is drawn to the super hero with cool powers and even cooler costumes. That is why today is so important because I believe that it is essential to take time to stop and realize that our real story would have been filled with a lot more pain, panic and pitfalls if it wasn’t for an every day hero who stepped in and maybe didn’t save THE day but certainly saved our day.
The writer of Hebrews presents us with three things that are necessary when thinking about heroes.
1. Heroes have habits.
I know we currently fill the the runner role in the account but don’t we all want to be heroes? Deep down inside of us we all have this desire to be the white knight, the valiant warrior, the John McCane - the unlikely one who faces down overwhelming odds - yippee ki yay - and we rally to victory. But then reality hits and our story tends to get the best of us and we timidly go into the night. So, how do you get on the list?
Heroes are made by habits! If you go back and examine the list in Hebrews 11 or if you think about the everyday heroes around you they all have habits.
I think Jesus may boil down the habits of heroes by saying that hero status is a matter of sacrifice. In John 15:13, He says, “No greater love has any man than the man that lays down his life for his friend.”
I know we think about laying life down as dying but what if we thought of it like this . . . They lay their life down . . . They set their desires and dreams aside to make our dreams a reality.
Here is another way to look at this . . . The Heroes of Hebrews and our heroes habitually lay their life down by . . .
Standing up when others set down.
Speaking up when others shut up.
Walking in when others walk out.
They are present when others are absent.
Seeing and believing the best when others see and believe the worst.
Heroes habitually do these things and in doing so they lay down their life to give someone else a chance, a shot, and a hope.
Here is the bottom line!
Heroes set the pace (they show us how to run) and show the path! They become heroes because they run the race! They are heroes because they show us where to run!
2. Heroes practice hand offs!
Heroes run but they also take their place in the stands so that others can run. Not only do they set pace and show path they also clear the path. They remove obstacles that would stop others from running. They make it possible for us to run. They run their race and then they hand us the baton so that we can run faster and further than they did.
If we aren’t careful, then we miss this. The Hebrews writer says that since we are surrounded by this great cloud of witnesses (heroes) this should cause us to run. But then he says that due to their example we should run a certain way. He says we should lay aside the sin that entangles us. Following their example, we should run clean so that others can follow our example.
They are in the stands cheering for us as we run hoping that we will run in such a way that we too will become someone’s hero!
We are running because of heroes! But the question we must consider and need to wrestle with is this question “who is running because of us? Who will you hand the baton to? Who will you lay your life down for?” Heroes practice hand offs.
3. Heroes should be honored (NOW!)!
The Hebrew writer takes time to acknowledge the people in the stands. He spends time examining our race and how we should run but he is careful to teach us that Heroes should be honored. We need to recognize that there are heroes in the stands who have paved the way!
I am convinced that one of our biggest issues is that we focus so sharply on our own race, reach, struggles, and goals that we tend to wait too late to honor those we should honor.
Paul, in Romans 13, demands that we learn to give honor to whom honor is due.
I have taught you in the past that what you fail to recognize, you fail to celebrate and what you fail to celebrate will eventually exit your life! We can’t afford to fail to honor or we risk heroes exiting!
We don’t have to wait until they sit in the stands to honor. Why save honor for eulogies? I think that as we reflect on our real story it is appropriate to stop and honor those who have helped us continue in the race! That is why we have invited heroes to attend with us today. Many of you have special people with you today. Folks who have laid down their life for you. You have a small token gift for them. However, as we stop here and give you a chance to present them this small gift it is really only a prop to give you the chance to take a second and express your gratitude for the sacrifice they made for you.
Shirt presentation!
We are thankful for you. You have made our real stories complete! But there is one more hero that does more than that . . . The writer of Hebrews concludes his discourse on heroes by drawing attention to The hero . . .
Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
Jesus is the ultimate hero and while every day heroes deserve honor He alone deserves our worship!
He held the fastest time in the world heading into the semifinals of the 400 meter race at the olympics. Four years earlier, at the '88 Olympics, this runner had to withdraw because of an injured Achilles tendon—just 90 seconds before the race was to begin. Now, four years and five surgeries later, Derek Redmond was ready to roll. The starting gun went off, and so did Derek. A hundred meters into the race, Derek crumpled to the track with a torn hamstring. Paramedics rushed out to help him, but he refused their help, waving them aside. He struggled to his feet, and started hopping, sometimes even crawling, determined to finish the race. And then, a big guy wearing a cap that says "Just Do It" came charging out of the stands. He pushed a security guard aside, ran to Derek's side and embraced him. It was Derek's dad. With his arm around his son's waist, Derek's dad helped his son limp the rest of the way around the track. The crowd was on its feet, cheering and weeping. Millions of TV viewers around the world did the same. Finally, Derek and his dad crossed the finish line together, arm in arm, long after the other runners had finished the race.
Jesus deserves worship because He came out of the stands, ran the race, won the race and now he helps us run! He put on skin and moved into our neighborhood! He is THE hero!
Our story is complete because of every day heroes but or story is eternal because of Jesus!
Will you join me on this day that we honor every day heroes and practice some hero worship for The ultimate hero?
