Celebrating Heroes

Would you agree that in the United States we tend to celebrate heroes on our nation's Independence Day?

We usually take the Fourth of July and stop and remember those that have fought for the freedoms that we enjoy here in America.

When I think of heroes, role models also come to mind and can be placed in that same type of category. Today we consider actors, actresses, politicians (sometimes), athletes and even coaches to be our heroes and role models.

Fortunately there are some very good role models in these categories. However, the vast majority of the time our heroes and role models can often be found headlining the newspapers and television news not because they are giving money to charity or helping a great cause, but more because they were caught out partying with the wrong crowd, they were betting on sports teams, carousing at nightclubs, accused of shooting someone or stealing some merchandise. Does this sound familiar?

The United States is in desperate need of some REAL heroes and role models to believe in and look up to during these trying times when it seems as though the moral fiber of our country is heading south and gaining speed.

It doesn't take a national tragedy like the bombing in Oklahoma City or the Twin Towers crashing before our eyes for us to look for heroes. Sometimes even in our own personal lives when can experience our own personal bombings and crashing buildings.

I would like to share with you a message which encourages us to become heroes in the midst of our own personal circumstances and trials.

Isaiah 6:1-13 shares with us a national tragedy in the life of the nation of Israel.

This chapter opens with a historical marker of great significance. Isaiah tells us that this is taking place "In the year that King Uzziah died." King Uzziah was an extremely popular king and one that led the nation of Israel to great prosperity despite some short comings of his own in his later years on the throne.

For the Israelites this was as significant as what the United States felt when John F. Kennedy was assassinated. But, even though the Israelites were in the midst of a national tragedy we can see three ways we are to respond to national or personal tragedies.

First Isaiah tells us to see the sovereignty of God.

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying." Isaiah 6:1-2

Despite the tragedy of losing King Uzziah Isaiah is still able to see the sovereignty of God because He was seated upon a throne. And not only was God seated on His throne, but verses 3 and 4 tell us that the seraphs were calling out "Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD Almighty: the whole earth is full of his glory." God was still being worshipped and the earth was still full of His glory.

People have often said and heard "Where was God at 9:02 a.m.?" when the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City was bombed. "Where was God when those two buildings tumbled to the ground?" My friends God was where He has always been and where He will continue to be throughout all of eternity. He was seated upon His throne being worshipped as the LORD Almighty, while His glory continually filled and still fills the earth.

You see we have finite minds that have no way of understanding a "true" righteous and just God. And contrary to what we sometimes think, God is not responsible for explaining everything that happens to us and the reasons behind the events.

God is not in the business of creating havoc and evil. That is the job of the great deceiver, the snake, the evil one - Satan himself.

So remember even during times of great tribulation, recognize the sovereignty of our God.

The second thing that we need to do in times of national or personal tragedy is look within and get a sense of our own sinfulness. Isaiah recognized his own sinfulness is verse 5 when he said, "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips . . ."

And never has there been such a time when self reflection is so desperately needed in our still great nation. Instead of blaming others and pointing figures away from ourselves. Let us take a look within and see our own shame and sinfulness and seek the forgiveness that was granted Isaiah in verses 6 and 7.

While God is the God of love and mercy, He is also the God of judgment and righteousness. God commands us to be Holy just as He is holy. And when we fall away from Him there are consequences for our actions as individuals and even as a nation.

And finally we can see that Isaiah shows us that we ourselves need to step up to the plate and become heroes during our times of struggles or when struggles hit our nation.

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said 'Here am I. Send me!'" Isaiah 6:8

We may ask well what do heroes do? How can I become a hero?

Verse 8 shows us that heroes are people who seek a place to serve. Isaiah heard the cry of the Lord and when He needed someone to go Isaiah stepped up to the plate and said he would get it done. And notice that Isaiah committed himself to go even before he knew what the task would be.

God charged Isaiah with the task of going to the people of Israel and telling them that there is hope despite the tragedy that surrounds them in verses 9-13.

Just as He calls us to go out to our people and tell them that there is hope when buildings are bombed, towers crash or personal tragedy strike. And that hope can be found in Jesus Christ.

Heroes are people who hold humility over honor. They are people who crave character over credentials.

We need some "true" heroes in the world today. Would you step up to the plate and become someone's hero or role model. And this may come as a surprise to some but everyone of us are already someone's hero or role model. What kind of example are you?