I have been thinking of ‘heroes’ since yesterday, because of an item in the news. The Bible has it’s heroes, people of renown laid out for us to read and remember their exploits. David’s mighty warriors listed in 2 Sam 23 and the battles they fought and won against the enemies of the king and God’s people. In the New Testament, Hebrews 11, a whole chapter listing the heroes of the Faith, all names from the Old Testament. Once again all these people have been recorded to inspire us to serve and be victorious in our own day.
Local and national news here recorded the death of a footballer, Harry Gregg 87 years old, who played in goal for Manchester United and Northern Ireland. On the 6th February 1958, he was involved in the Munich air crash, when twenty three passengers died during takeoff. Despite warnings that the plane would explode, it was still burning, he went back inside and rescued a pregnant mother and her twenty month old daughter. He also carried out unconscious colleagues, one of whom was Bobby Charlton, later captain of England’s victorious World Cup team. In an emotional meeting years later with Vera Lukic(seriously injured mother) and Vesna, her adult daughter, he recounted hearing the baby cry and that’s what took him back into the burning plane wreckage. They drank a toast together and Harry said it should be to ‘life’, they’d survived the crash. Jewish people say L’Chaim, ‘to life’, when they toast one another. Harry Gregg lived a long life after the crash, though he risked his life to save some people unknown to him. It would have been easy to have walked away, but he went back.(He was known as the Hero of Munich).
In Rev 5 it’s recorded about the scroll in the hand of Almighty God, with seven seals that no one could open. John ‘wept and wept’ that no one could be found to open the scroll. V5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals”. Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the centre of the throne…. Jesus was much more than a hero, He is the Saviour for all mankind but He needed bravery to endure on earth that He might stand in Heaven. We too need courage to face our own trials here, and not to walk away, that we may stand there.
May you be blessed with L’Chaim(LIFE) to serve God this day.