I was watching a documentary on the painter, Norman Rockwell, the other day and my feelings were stirred at his amazing power to bring inspirational images of everyday life to his canvases. Though his works ranged from the serious to the humorous, almost all of them moved me to appreciate life as it should be in these United States.
Unfortunately, Mr. Rockwell died over forty years ago. As my mind pondered that, a deepening sadness overtook me. Has any artist replaced him? Hero, don’t go!
So many of our heroes have come and gone, even in my short lifetime. We think of those who were known nationally or even around the world. Then when we add in our personal heroes, it seems like their leaving means our lives will never be the same again. I’ve had the privilege to be in many a hospital with families of departing loved ones. Hearing, “Daddy, don’t go,” is no surprise. I’ve felt the same way a number of times.
When the biblical patriarch, Jacob, died in Egypt, even the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days, and when his family carried his body back to Canaan for burial, they mourned “with a great and very solemn lamentation” an extra seven days (Genesis 50 NKJV). A similar scene is repeated with Israel’s good kings, and, of course, with Jesus. Why do you think Peter was so adamant, when Jesus was foretelling His death, and Peter said, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” (Matthew 16:22 NKJV)? Hero, don’t go!
We understand the brevity of life on earth. King Hezekiah put it this way, “My life span is gone, taken from me like a shepherd's tent” (Isaiah 38:12). Here today, gone tomorrow, is the way it goes.
Our heroes do go, except for one. As Moses concluded his 120 years, he said to what I’m sure was an anxious Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). Christians are reassured with the same words in Hebrews 13:5.
I’ve thought a lot about reasons to believe over the last forty-plus years, but as I write this article, it’s really coming home to me. Everything (James 5:1-3) and everyone we put our trust in will go from our lives. It’s all like autumn’s falling leaves, blown away and never to return. Then there is only one left standing there, Almighty God. He is my never-go Hero. How about yours?
Jeff Greene, minister for the South Stokes Church of Christ