Who Is Your Hero? Biblical and Every Day Heroes St. Luke’s Fall Message Series

As a typical American boy rooting for the team that both of sides of his family followed, Walter Payton was my first hero and in many ways he still is today. His nickname spoke of his personality, “Sweetness.” However he was not sweet when he touched the football, he was a gritty, hard-nosed Chicago Bears running back who would take on contact often deliver a wicked stiff arm before being tackled, almost never running out of bounds. Former Bear Tight-End and Super Bowl Coach Mike Ditka described Payton as the greatest football player he had ever seen—but an even greater human being
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A Christian, Payton, in February 1999, Payton announced that he had a rare liver disease. Earlier in his prognosis he had the opportunity to purchase a liver on the black market, but said, he was no more special than anyone else and decided to wait his turn in line. He spent his final months as an advocate for organ transplants, and encouraged others to donate organs, although by the time his first appeal was recorded, his illness was already too far advanced for a transplant to have been a viable option. He started many other charitable organizations and in response, the NFL Man of the Year Award which recognizes an NFL player for his excellence on and off the field, established in 1970, was renamed in 1999 after Walter Payton. Each team nominates one player who has had a significant positive impact on his community, representing the best of the NFL's commitment to philanthropy and community impact.
 
A Hero – is a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. I would add a hero seeks the best for all people and the common good. That is what we find in the Bible time and time again.
 
As I shared in the Labor Day Weekend Message (Genesis 4:3-15), the first hero in the Bible is God. God’s response to Cain’s fear is amazing. The unreconciled, although punished is still protected. As it was shared in an August message– Jesus tells the people that God treats the righteous and the unrighteous the same (Matthew 5:43-47), while justice prevails.
 
Last Sunday we looked at the Apostle Paul. He is famous for being probably the greatest evangelist ever, but he was previously Saul, infamous for being a Zealot religious leader who persecuted and killed Christians. Again, a hero wants the best for all people and the common good. Jesus, the Son of God, took one who was an enemy and transformed him.

Over the next ten weeks we will hear many more Biblical people who trusted God and kept the faith – well, most of the time. Qualifiers are required because as you hear their stories they are far from perfect. What we can take from all of this is that perfection is not a requirement to be a hero. Neither is unwavering faith or blind trust, each of these characters had their faults and failures; as do we – which allows us to become everyday heroes as we seek to be the best person God made us to be and strive for the common good.

We will hear the story of two unlikely heroes this coming Sunday. God takes an old couple, Abram and Sarai, blesses them by to be a blessing to all nations.
There is a hero in each one of us. But I’m still curious, “Who is one of your heroes?” Share in the comment below.
Ongoing prayers and blessings, Rob