Spiritual Life
The Unlikely Heroes
By Lori D'Augostine
CBN.com Producer
CBN.com
– What defines a hero? Is there a list of criteria, for a person to be deemed as such? According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, a hero is “a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability.”
In the latest Veggie Tale movie, The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything, Larry the Cucumber and his misfit comrades’, Mr. Lunt and Pa Grape are the most unlikely of candidates to parade as heroes. In fact the three don’t have much to offer. They’re not divine by any stretch of the imagination. They are measly busboys working at a dinner theatre. Finally, their big break comes when they are offered a starring role in a Pirate show at the theatre, and the three are thrust into the billows of sea life.
As the adage goes, heroes are often made and not born. It is only when the veggies find themselves in the backdrop of a setting of misfortune are their characters given a chance to grow.
Isn’t that how it is in the Bible? It's often the lowly and the contrite who are lifted up. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus instructed the crowd, that the meek and poor inherit the Kingdom of God, and that whoever is the least of these among the greatest are fit to be called disciples of Christ.
Jesus admonishes His disciples to count the cost of being a follower of Him. If we are not willing to suffer hardship and endure trials, then we are not true followers of God.
Timothy admonishes believers to answer Jesus’ call. "Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 2:3)
The call of the righteous is also the call of the brave. God loves His children, and just like a good father, He will discipline them to produce spiritual maturity. It is only through the fiery trials of life, that true character can be attained.
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4)
The means to becoming mature and complete is perseverance. What is perseverance? When I think of perseverance, I think of a runner who has barely enough energy to make the last lap towards the finishing line. So, they push forward with all that they have. Oftentimes, when we are pushed to the limit in our faith walk, it is perseverance that takes us to the end goal. Perseverance is normally the last spiritual lap.
The good news is that there is a last lap. Our suffering is temporal.
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” (1 Peter 5:10)
And, the harvest that suffering produces is eternal.
The little busboys in the movie, emerge as heroic, super-human Pirates. Perhaps Webster was right – a hero does have great divine strength and ability. However, this is developed over time and through trial.
There are many Biblical examples of heroes. Take Job for instance. God knew that Job was a righteous man, but Satan opted to test his character. After Job was put through the fire, his character was undeniable. Job was able to maintain his faith in God and emerge even stronger.
Jesus was our ultimate hero. No man in all time, ever suffered as much as Christ. He was bruised, beaten, rejected, scorned, and He carried the weight of the sins of the world. God even turned His back on Him, and yet still… Christ persevered. He finished His work. He is our ultimate example of heroism, with all that He endured.
The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything end up doing a lot to conquer the dangers of the sea. They emerge as true heroes, woven and spun by the trials they overcome, making this much more than a children’s animation movie, but a Biblical inspiration for all ages.
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