Heroes vs. Villains
Pt. 4 - Hero Worship
I. Introduction
We have been talking about heroes and villains for the last 4 weeks. People are drawn to heroes! A good example of this fact began in 1970. Every year since then scores of people spend thousands of dollars, put on elaborate costumes to dress up as their favorite hero or villain and descend on San Diego to celebrate the heroes and villains of comic books and movies. In fact, in 2015 what has become known as Comic Con drew 167,000 people and last year after being cancelled for two years due to Covid 125,000 people made the journey to this event. These folks make this trip to participate in hero worship. They are honoring the heroes they adore.
Today, I am glad we don't have to make that kind of trip or even dress up in elaborate costumes to honor heroes. We have heroes here today that are worthy of honor and we have gathered for that purpose!
- First Responders
- Medical
- Military
- Educators
- Invited Heroes
We are thankful for each of you and we have a gift for you if you haven't already received it be sure to stop by the Hero Table in the lobby before you leave today. We appreciate the mark and impact you make on our life and our community. You are worthy of double honor today.
Why? Scripture teaches us this in Romans 13:7 (KJV) - Render to all what is due them: taxes to whom taxes are due, respect to whom respect is due, fear to whom fear is due, and honor to whom honor is due.
I started thinking about the differences between a hero and a villain. Early, in this series, I said that the way someone uses their power determines whether or not they are hero. This is true. However, I wanted to try to identify the traits or characteristics of a hero. What makes an individual a hero? What would cause someone to be worthy of honor?
Here are some of the things I thought of . . . It isn't an exhaustive list, but I think it does capture the essence of the difference between heroes and villains.
A hero rallies to those less fortunate. A villain takes advantage of those less fortunate. It is the saving the damsel in distress idea.
A hero runs to trouble rather than doing what a villain does which is to create trouble. It is the response to the Bat Signal in the sky. While everyone else is running away from the trouble they run into it.
A hero is honest. A villain just can't seem to help it they are dishonest at their core.
A hero is compassionate while a villain lacks empathy.
A hero perseveres but a villain will quit.
A hero is humble compared to a villain who operates in pride. The hero wants to save the world while the villain wants to take over the world.
A hero is selfless and a villain is selfish.
This list helps us identify the qualities of a hero by contrasting them against the traits of a villain so that when we see someone operating in some of the qualities of a hero, we honor them as such. Those who have been identified as heroes here today have operated in one or more of these ways and it caused us to notice and to be impacted.
I want to tell you about my hero today. He is here too. I want to do that by just quickly pointing out the traits on this list that I have seen Him fulfill and then I would love to introduce you to Him if you don't know Him.
A hero rallies to those who are less fortunate.
Luke 4:18-19 (NIV) - The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Mark 2:17 (MSG) - Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting the sin-sick, not the spiritually-fit.”
A hero runs to trouble.
Psalms 34:18 (NIV) - The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalms 46:1 (KJV) - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
A hero is honest.
John 14:6 (NIV) - Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. It isn't that my hero doesn't tell a lie it is that He can't tell a lie! He is the truth.
A hero is compassionate.
John 11:35 - Jesus wept!
Matthew 9:36 (NIV) - When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
At least 6 occasions in Scripture where my hero was moved on with compassion for people in hopeless and helpless situations.
A hero perseveres.
Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) - Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith . . . For the joy set before him he endured the cross.
He wouldn't quit when it would have easy to do so.
A hero is humble.
Philippians 2:5-8 (TLB) ?Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ, who, though he was God, did not demand and cling to his rights as God, but laid aside his mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men. And he humbled himself even further, going so far as actually to die a criminal’s death on a cross.
A hero is selfless.
1 John 3:16 (NIV) - This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
My hero doesn't just exhibit one trait of a hero. He fulfills every criterion on the list. He hits them all. We certainly honor all the heroes in the house today. However, Jesus alone is ultimately worthy of hero worship. He is the ultimate hero because He has defeated the ultimate villain and unlike the contests in the comic books where the hero barely comes through, this contest wasn't even close. Jesus obliterates the enemy!
We see this in Revelation 1:18 - I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and hell.
He not only defeats the enemy my hero strips the enemy of his most feared weapons death and hell.
And the truth we want you to hear today is that the simple reason that Jesus acted so heroically is . . . you! He did this for you. He took on and defeated the villain so that you could have life - eternal life - with Him. He said it this way in John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly. The signal went up. We were in a hopeless and helpless situation. No way to live right. No way to get back into relationship with the Father. Destined for destruction and defeat. No means of escape. But my hero sees our situation and our condition and He swoops in and provides a way of rescue for us.
However, a hero can't save someone who doesn't want to be saved. We must submit. We must accept. We must allow Jesus to become the hero of our story! He deserves hero worship. He is worthy of it. But we must be willing to give it to Him. Jesus is the Ultimate Hero. However, in order for Him to become our hero we must identify Him as the Ultimate Hero that He is.
If you don't have a relationship with Jesus, then today is your hero day. You can meet this hero. He will gladly rally to you. He will respond to your trouble and your pain. He is simply waiting on the signal of surrender. It is simply acknowledging our need and acknowledging His ability to answer that need. We simply ask and believe that Jesus is who He said He was and we place Him on the throne of our life.
If you have already met Jesus, then you know He is worthy of worship. No one can compare. Superman, Batman, Spiderman, Policeman, Preacher man all come in a distant second. I remind you of the text we began with today. We should give honor to whom honor is due. Let's take a moment and worship the Hero!
