God Always Has a Hero

Adam and Seth had died. The earth was filling up. Wicked deeds and sinister plots abounded. The Lord was sad He had made mankind. He would need to start over. Only one man and his family on the entire planet was seeking to live for Him. He would destroy the earth, but save Noah and his family. God gave instructions to Noah and this righteous family built a huge ship. While the men worked on the ark, Noah preached to anyone who would listen. He begged people to turn away from their sin and follow God.

In the midst of an evil world, God had a hero.

Centuries later, in the evil city of Ur where men worshiped demons and lived for pleasure, God called a man out, to follow Him. He wanted to start a nation and through that nation bring a Messiah. Abraham walked with God. He left his family home with his wife and nephew to live in the land his descendants would inhabit.

​In a wicked world, one man stood alone to serve his God.

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Abraham’s great grandson Joseph was used by the Lord to rescue the fledgling nation of Israel from famine and to go on ahead to the land of Egypt so that the tiny nation could incubate. Israel emerged from Egypt hearty and numerous, ready to live in the land promised to Abraham.

Another hero named Moses would lead the people out of Egypt and reveal the laws God intended them to live by. Through Moses, God performed signs and wonders that made the nations stand up and take notice. The fear of the Lord settled on the people living near Israel.

After Moses, another hero named Joshua declared the Word of God boldly and stood on the promises of God.

Centuries went by and the nation of Israel was now two nations: Israel and Judah. In Israel, the people served idols and rejected the God who had miraculously parted the Red Sea and led them into the Promised Land. Who would stand up and defend the honor of God. Who would go toe-to-toe with the priests of baal? God raised up a hero named Elijah who declared God’s Word fearlessly and had a power encounter with the followers of baal.

​Elijah stepped out in faith to remind the Israelites of the God who loved them and wanted a relationship with them. 

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Heroes can be women too. Mary was willing to endure public shame and humiliation so that the Messiah could be born of a virgin, fulfilling prophetic words. And God became flesh, lived a perfect life, died for our sins, conquered death, and rose gloriously from the dead.

Peter, one of Jesus' followers, was an unlikely hero. He was insecure, foolish, and emotional. But, God used him to build the church in those early days. Peter was one of the first to share the Gospel with the Gentiles. The Apostle Paul carried on his mission.

When heresy began to permeate the young church, God raised up a hero named Athanasius who refused to back down, but proclaimed the truth boldly about the deity of Christ. Though persecuted and exiled several times, he finally persuaded leaders to embrace truth.

When worldliness crept into the church, St. Augustine boldly took his pen to write truths that would stand the test of time. People still read his works today and are challenged to live wholeheartedly for God.

A young boy named Patrick was kidnapped by Irish pirates and during his imprisonment in Ireland, he remembered Jesus, whom his parents loved and served. He gave his heart to Christ, escaped, and, years later, returned to the land of his captors and led most of the island to Christ. God gave him great boldness. Today, when people celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, they don’t realize what a hero this saint truly was.

When heresy crept into the church again, one man boldly stood for truth.

​On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed 85 Thesis to the Whittenburg Door, a reminder of truths that were forgotten by Christians. In the years that followed, many heroes gave their life so the Bible could be translated into different languages and people everywhere could hear the Gospel. 

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When times are the darkness, God has His heroes who rise up and declare truth with boldness and love to anyone who will listen. In our day, as darkness floods our nation, God has heroes who will live for Him and speak for Him. Are you one of those heroes? 

I want to teach my children about God's heroes. I want them to know that throughout time, men and women have served Him wholeheartedly and impacted their world for the glory of God. 

One way I teach my children about God's heroes is with a Heroes for Jesus Party. 

​Do you want to have your own Heroes for Jesus Party? Celebrate Our Christian Heroes encourages families to give their children true heroes in their lives, shares ideas on how to learn about Christian heroes, gives instructions to host a Heroes for Jesus Party, gives a list of heroes with monologues, costume suggestions, and games, and includes autumn recipes to use at your Heroes for Jesus Party. An additional Bonus is Paul's Missionary Journey to Rome Game with instructions, templates, and rules.

Celebrate Our Christian Heroes is available at Amazon. The E-book is available at PayHIp or Currclick. 

Happy Celebrating! 
Meredith Curtis   

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