All the rest of the heroes encourage us to be faithful as we run our race of faith.

I want to be a hero. I think most people would like to be one. But I want to be one of those heroes who don't have to do much to get there. I don't want to be a hero because I was able to suffer a lot of pain for a long time without complaint. Don't make me a hero like Abraham, who was told to sacrifice his son. Don't make me a hero like Jacob, who struggled most of his life learning to trust God. Isn't there some simple thing I can do this afternoon that will make me a hero? Well, maybe.

UNNAMED HEROES

In the "Heroes of faith" chapter of Hebrews, we get a long list of well-known heroes. But the writer to the Hebrews ends by saying that he can't include them all because there have been so many. They aren't all named. He simply describes some of them. They "through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised . . . shut the mouths of lions. . . . . Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword" (Hebrews 11:33-37).

I guess I don't want to be a hero that badly—especially the "sawed in half" variety. But actually this is the point of the whole chapter: to use these Old Testament heroes of faith to inspire us to be New Testament heroes. "These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect (Hebrews 11:39,40).

These heroes didn't know all the details of the Savior's birth as we do, but they still followed him with courage. They didn't know exactly every incident of the Lord's passion, but they still thanked him with their lives. They didn't sit with the disciples and hear Jesus' teaching or see his miracles, nor were they able to read eyewitness account. Yet they believed God's Word and followed his commandments. If they could be heroes, we certainly can be too.

PRESENT-DAY HEROES

After naming all these heroes, the writer to the Hebrews wrote, "Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, . . . let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (12:1). So when your walk with God seems difficult, remember Enoch, who walked with God even though he didn't know him as well as you do. When it seems like God isn't looking out for you, remember Abraham, who had to wait until he was one hundred years old to have the son God promised. When the challenges seem too great and the pain too much, think about those who lived in caves and were sawed in half even though they never heard Jesus say, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).