God's Heroes by John M. Hopkins

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Mar 3, 1904

God's Heroes

By John M. Hopkins

JOHN M. HOPKINS

The world has had many heroes, men who were ambitious for wealth, for renown, for position and power,—men of large ability, of education, of physical strength. The world's history abounds with records of daring, of endurance, of energy and enterprise in the mad rush for earthly glory.

But there is another class of heroes and heroines of whom the world knows little or nothing. I do not mean those only who have stood in the forefront of the conflict against wrong, such men as Luther, Wesley, or Whitefield. I do not mean the D. D.'s or the LL. D.'s or any of the famous ones. But I do mean those men and women of every creed and clan, of every place and time, who have valiantly stood for God and his truth,—men and women who, in humble circumstances, in poverty, in hunger, in destitution, and in persecution, have firmly, but meekly and patiently adhered to the right,—those who, in opposition, have been willing to sacrifice life rather than compromise principle,—men and women who have braved trials and hardships that they might carry the “good news” to their brothers and sisters in heathen darkness.

And God has his heroes in the home land. There are many fathers and mothers, many husbands and wives, many sons and daughters, who are toiling and struggling against difficulties, bearing heavy burdens of care and duty,—many wives whose husbands are hard, cruel, and intemperate, who receive at their hands only neglect and abuse,—many mothers who are patiently toiling for those they love, denying themselves needed food, clothing, and rest, that their wayward, ungrateful children may be made comfortable and happy,—many husbands and fathers working early and late to supply the needed comforts of home, while they are regarded as simply “the old man,”—many whose forms are bent, whose hands are marred and scarred, whose fingers are crooked, whose eyes are dimmed, of whom the world is not worthy.

Indeed, the world knows nothing of them. Silently, uncomplainingly, patiently, they toil on year after year, until, worn out, their life ebbs away, and they are laid to rest. Too late the scoffing son or daughter, the ungrateful husband or wife, comes to see that father or mother or companion was not appreciated. Too late they recall the bitter words spoken, the slights and the neglects.

But God knows. He sees all those tears. He hears all those sighs and cries. He feels all those heartaches and pains. He knows all those struggles for principle, for truth and righteousness. Yes, many are the Lord's heroes. And it requires vastly more moral courage, more strength of character, more strict adherence to principle and duty to thus toil on unloved, unappreciated, unknown, year after year, and not only to toil but to bear and suffer, than it does to win a battle or to conquer an enemy.

My brother, my sister, are you one of God's heroes, one of his heroines? Toil on. Are you standing, perhaps all alone, in defense of the “commandments of God and the faith of Jesus”? Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Stand faithfully at your post of duty, knowing that a true man, a true woman, will stand at the post of duty like a man, like a woman, or fearlessly fall there. Make no compromise with sin, banish it from your heart and life. Make no compromise with the world; for it “lieth in wickedness.” Be true to your high sense of justice, of honor, of Christian dignity. Be true to Christ, principle, and duty. Be true to your own best present and eternal interests. Be God's hero in the strife.