What does it mean to be famous? What makes someone a hero? What qualities determine a person’s celebrity status? Who determines the characteristics of the brave? If one has done exemplary things or has become an influencer, then why is their status elevated?
At some point in our lives, we all dream about being famous. We dream about gaining wealth and celebrity status. We mentally go through what if situations that may make us the hero. We calculate the amount of courage or bravery we might need if we happen to find ourselves in the “right place at the right time.â€
I have met famous people. I have a picture with Rob Van Winkle (aka Vanilla Ice). I shook the hand of the famous comedian Sinbad. I have ridden in an elevator with Chris Tomlin. I have sat a few feet from Josh Pastner, Georgia Tech Basketball Coach, while eating dinner. I watched Meadow Lark Lemmon play basketball in my old high school gym. I even got Meadow Lark’s autograph on an old fishing hat. That autograph has since faded.
I have also seen famous people in person. I listened to Lech Walesa, Poland’s first democratically elected president. Seen the David Crowder Band live. I have sat in church with Ricky Stenhouse Jr (NASCAR Driver) and his then girlfriend, Danica Patrick.
Again, what makes someone famous? Or makes them a hero? We tend to elevate people based on celebrity status or their heroism. I think we also elevated Bible characters. Who does not want to ask Jonah what it was like being in the belly of the fish for three days? I want to know what Gideon was feeling when he told his 300 soldiers what the plan was to defeat the 120,000 strong Midianite Army. I want to ask Peter what the day of Pentecost was like.
You see, we elevate the characters of the Bible. I am positive that you have some favorite Bible characters. You may even have a list of questions that you would like to ask them when you get to heaven.
Did you know that famous people are just like you and me? Did you know that heroes are just like you and me? Did you know that the different Bible characters, with the exception of Jesus, are just like you and me?
Granted famous people may be rich or some sort of super star in their field. Heroes most likely were at the right place at the right time who mustered amazing amounts of courage and bravery. Those Bible characters, God most definitely had a hand in all of that.
James 5:17 gives us something to think about when it comes to those people that we have elevated to celebrity or hero status. “Elijah was a man just like us.†Not sure if you caught that but Elijah was just like me. He was just like you. He did not do anything fancy or extraordinary. That was all God’s doing through him. Elijah was ordinary just like the rest of the folks in the Bible, except for Jesus.
People do extraordinary things. It may be that they have incredible athletic talent, or they have lots of money, they are great actors, or you fill in the blank. At the end of the day they are just like you and me.
From Jared’s Desk