Who is Your Hero? posted by jwatson on Sep 10, 2013

Rafa Nadal won yet another tennis grand slam event, this time the U.S. Open in New York City against the gifted Novak Djokovic. They were the number 1 and 2 players in the world. If you are a fan of tennis and watched this final, the shot making, rallies and effort was awe-inspiring.

Like many of our sports heroes, these two men were groomed for this destiny from childhood.  Their blood, sweat and tears are spilled on courts of concrete, clay and grass on a regular basis.

In the end, after winning, Nadal fell jubilantly to the ground and rolled on the hard surface, as so many tennis winners do in victory. He then shook his opponent’s hand and returned to the court where he, once again, fell to the ground.

Through all of the years of physical and emotional sacrifice, they reach the pinnacle of sports glory. The mountaintop has been climbed and what is next? The trophy is presented, they walk away only to go through the pain and toil in the next tournament.

“There’s got to be more!”

Tom Brady, a Super Bowl winning quarterback, has reached that mountaintop three times in his career. He has money, fame and incredible career accomplishment just like these two tennis greats. He is one of the best quarterbacks to have ever played football. And he shed light and wisdom on his success during an interview years ago on 60 Minutes:

“Why do I have three super bowl rings and still think there is something greater out there for me? I think, “God, there’s got to be more than this.””

When asked what the answer was, he replied, “I wish I knew.”

He then concluded, “There are a lot of other parts about me that I’m trying to find.”

Eventually the bodies of today’s best athletes fall apart. Our sports heroes come and go. We worship their feats. But are they really heroes? The Bible is clear that there is one Hero, Jesus Christ. I think Jesus is the “something greater” that sports greats like Tom Brady are trying to find.

In our search for heroes, we’ll do better than look to sports figures. We’ll turn to scripture and find individuals from the Old Testament like Joseph, David and Jonah. But Jesus is the new Joseph who saves us. Jesus is the true and better David who takes care of God’s enemy. Jesus is the more obedient Jonah who was cast into the storm so we could be free.

Share with others the story of the One, true, great Hero:  Jesus Christ.

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