How Fathers Are To Be Heroes
The following is an excerpt from an article written by a father, who also was a son, about his hero. I’ll reveal the source at the conclusion of the article excerpt.
All of us have been young. The young have no corner on that market, so what do I think is different today than when I grew up? My hero was my father and his hero was God!! My hero made sure that all the “rages” of youth were calmed by God’s Word, not the sheriff’s department. It was not what WE WANTED, that took precedence, but what God wanted and what would make us God’s useful servants. He was not perfect, but his hero was and we were taught to look past imperfection to perfection. It was not a tyrant, but a guide to God that molded my life; it was not what was popular, but what was right by God’s standards that decided. And, he was ably assisted by a godly woman that allowed him to be our hero even when it might have been contested. She stood beside him like a rock!!
He installed us with a passion that abided in his soul (that’s where all children’s faith begins). He showed us an uncompromising love for the Word of God (one to be passed on to our children); an overwhelming, all encompassing desire to fill our lives with the desire of God, not those of some man, and it didn’t matter who they were!! No, he is not perfect, and I don’t agree with him all the time on what he says or does, but I have tried all my life to follow in his steps as he has followed Christ, and sometimes I have stepped in real deep. I thank God for having a father who is/was my hero. I had a jump-start advantage most people had to earn in the study of the scriptures. This was given me by his teaching and example. It makes a real impression on a young man to see his father cry, spend sleepless nights, and give up the easy life because the church Christ died to save was more important to him than life!!
It became my help to fall back on when I needed it most, and I am trying to show my sons and daughter the same faithfulness. You may not have had a father like mine, but all those who have not been so blessed can be that type of blessing to their children! Again, Dad, who is your hero? Who is the hero of your wife, your sons, your daughters, and your friends? I hope it is you. I pray you will have the love of God in your heart to stand up for God in a perverse world and be counted; that you will have a wife that will allow you to be a hero. Your children need you!!
Joe David Wilson – deceased
The author of the article from which this excerpt was taken was the brother of my wife, Linda. He was a faithful gospel preacher, the son of a faithful gospel preacher and the father of preachers. He finished his earthly mission two years ago as of the 23rd of this month. While here, as his father taught him, he stood for God and he stood as hero in the lives of his family. Examples like this are needed in the church today. To whom do we look?
Many look to the mighty, the strong, or the courageous of the world. But we have an excellent passage from the Word of God in Hebrews 11:32-38, which shows that real heroes are those who serve God faithfully in this life. This is in addition to all the “heroes” listed in the “honor roll of the faithful” in the first part of Hebrews chapter 11. And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Many fathers of the world are being honored on this “Father’s Day”, but how many fathers are concerned about being the types of heroes that God would have them be. Christian fathers, make the on-going effort to become the hero of your children. There is very clear guidance from the Word of God that is applicable to all Christian fathers. Ephesians 6:4, instructs the fathers how to become their children’s heroes. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
It is not too late to begin “molding” yourself into the hero your children, and your wife needs. Each Christian man has a sacred responsibility to their families. The souls of those you love are depending on you. If you are not a hero for them, you not only let them down, you let God down as well. Think about it! Be a hero!
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
