The Hero Of History By Pete BriscoeSample

Your Personal Hero

Christ is the Son of God. He died to atone for men’s sin, and after three days rose again. This is the most important fact in the universe. I die believing in Christ. — Watchman Nee (written in a note found under his pillow, in prison, at his death)

Every story needs a hero. When everything seems lost and there’s nothing left to do about it, hope and help come from the hero at just the right time. 

The Great Story of humanity began in the ideal of Eden… but quickly dissolved into the cataclysmic aftermath of sin. The crisis sent shockwaves throughout the world—and we feel its effects in our own lives to this day. Since that’s the story we find ourselves in, we need a hero. We need a Great Hero to save us now.

Who is our hero? It’s JESUS! He’s the only one with the qualifications to pull it off. Fully, absolutely, categorically God! Fully, absolutely, categorically man. He lived a perfect, sinless life while on earth—and He came for a reason:

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)

Make no mistake! This is the absolute climax of humanity’s story. At “just the right time,” Christ made the ultimate sacrifice for the powerless sinner. The reason He came was to deal with the crisis—to fix it! Not only in a general theological way… or a political way; He came to fix it in a personal way. God in the flesh, personally putting it all on the line for you and for me. God and man, restored to intimate fellowship in Christ.

That’s the climax of the Great Story.

Are you in it?

Father, some of us have heard this story for as long as we can remember. For some of us it is brand new. I pray that You will make the story come alive to me today in all its power and all its glory. By the power of Your Spirit, open the eyes of my heart so that I can vividly see what You did for me—what You are still doing for me—so that I can embrace You as my Great Hero! Amen.

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Reflection:

1. What role do you play in the Great Story?
2. What’s the difference between being “in Adam” and “in Christ”?
3. How are you embracing Christ’s heroic work in your life?