Every culture has its icons – legends to become larger-than-life as their story is told and retold. In days past, these heroes have often been war and political figures whose images are burned in our minds eye. In Western nations like great Britain, the United States, and Canada, we can picture them clearly; Winston Churchill – under fire from every side, chomping on his cigar, face resolute, certain his nation would not fall.(Who can forget his “we will fight them on the beaches,” speech which so wonderfully armed a people with resolve and determination to both endure and overcome?); George Washington – standing in his boat as he crossed the Delaware river, tunic flapping in the breeze; American soldiers, raising the flag at Iwo Jima; William Wallace, running through the Scotland Highlands; Gen. Douglas MacArthur – smoking is corn cob pipe, defiantly promising, I shall return; Admiral. Nelson at trafalgar; Wellington, defeating Napoleon in Waterloo; the ragtag band of Canadians, overcoming all odds to take the vimy Ridge.
As the Western world has evolved, we’ve seen our cultural heroes shift from revolutionary warriors to sports figures and entertainers. Their images resonate with us as well. Michael Jordan, flying through the air, tongue hanging out, ready to Tomahawk the ball through the hoop. John Elway, juking and jiving and pumping headfirst into the end zone. It’s Wayne gretzky ducking out from behind the net and lifting up backhanded shot past hapless goaltender. Roger Clemens striking out batter after batter after batter. Mohammed Ali flexing his muscles over a splayed out Sonny Liston. Entertainment has provided similar icons; Bono, arms spread open, singing with all his might Marlon Brando’s godfather vito corleone; Russell Crowe, the gladiator himself, shouting to the crowd are you not entertained?; Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer chatting away at the coffee shop on Seinfeld; batman standing alone atop the building.
But these icons pale in comparison to the influence of spiritual heroes. The lives of these war heroes and entertainment superstars have been examined and Chronicled, but never to the degree of the heroes of the Bible. And entertainer’s life is like dust compared to the influence of those who accomplished great things for the kingdom of God. For centuries, people have looked to the lives of the spiritual heroes for guidance and inspiration. How did they do it? How did someone like that change the world?
Hebrews 11, one of my favorite passages of Scripture, list some of these spiritual heroes. It leaves us a defining image of their greatness. Able, who offered a more excellent sacrifice than his brother Cain, and who had God testifying of his gifts. Enoch, who please God to the point that he did not die, but was taken away by him. Noah, who moved with godly fear and became here of the righteousness which is according to faith. Abraham, who went out, not knowing where he was going, because he had a promise from God. Sarah, his wife, who bore a child when she was passed the age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, barak, Sampson, jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets; heroes all of them. Through faith, they subdued kingdoms, work righteousness, obtain promises, stop the mouse of lines, quenched the violence of fire, escape the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turn to fight the armies of the aliens, as Hebrews 11; 33 to 34 says. And for everyone mentioned in this passage, there are five more left off the list. A new generation of spiritual heroes fills the pages of the New Testament; Peter, the rock upon which Christ built his church; John, the beloved, resting his head on Jesus’s shoulder; the apostle Paul, preaching the gospel fearlessly – even while in chains; John the Baptist, foretelling the arrival of the Messiah; Mary, the gentle and devoted mother of a child that change everything; Barnabas, the encourager; Timothy, the young pastor; Luke, the faithful scribe and doctor.
Who could ever forget Dr. Martin Luther King, at a critical time in the life of black Americans, standing resolutely against separatism and declaring, I have a dream?
Think of the enormous respect from all people and creeds for the purity and passion of Billy Graham, a man after God’s heart. My own heroes are; Graham Perrins, who taught me prophetic’s and gave me a profound love of Scripture; Arthur Burt, Harry Greenwood, and Ian Andrews who modeled the life of faith and a passion for the spirit; Gerald Coates’s, for his courage in standing up for none religious Christianity; Paul pillai, and unsung apostolic, church planting hero in India. Mike Bickle and his passion for intimacy with God.
For all the people in prophetic ministry who have stood the test of time and the warfare that surrounds your life and have prevailed over the enemy and especially organized religion – John Paul Jackson, Rick Joyner, Jim goal, Larry Randolph, Bob Jones, Patricia king, Stacy Campbell.
All of them, all of them, icons and legends in their own fields. The list Hebrews 11 is ongoing in the father’s heart.
This is the legacy that we as Christians walk in. As the poet John mccrae’s said in his work in flanders fields, take up our quarrel with the foe; to you from failing hands we throw the torch; be yours to hold it high. The heroes of the faith have passed this towards from generation to generation, and now it is time for our present-day spiritual warriors to carry it forward. We are hairs of the same Christ that these heroes prophesied would come and redeem the world.
Assignment – who are your heroes and why? Identify them by name and consider what they have been to you. Hollister life touched yours? What difference have they meant to; your walk with God? Your ministry and the place in the kingdom and the relationship around your life?
Commission – write to these people to bless, encourage and affirm them in their calling in destiny. If your hero is deceased, write a letter to the father asking for similar qualities to be in you.