True Heroism by Rev. I. M. Pines

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, Cal. · Aug 22, 1878

True Heroism.

By Rev. I. M. Pines

ALL the great and noble characters of history have laid claim to heroism, and the common consent of mankind has, in all times conceded them the honor.

But there is a dignity and beauty which invests the heroes of the Bible, and which lends a pleasing charm even to their failings. A contrast between the world's hero, and the true moral hero will show in what they differ mainly, and make manifest the beauty of the latter over the former.

Heroism as set forth in the great of this world, means, in a great measure, the oppression of the weak, taking advantage of the ignorant and helpless, and the extent of its destruction of honor, property, and morals. War, is said by some one, to be the sport of death, and rejoices only in the extent of its spoils; and such as have been most skillful and successful in warlike operations have been reckoned the greatest heroes. If this were the legitimate course to true heroism, there would be high premium on vice and sinful ambition. But such is not the heroism of the Bible.

The object of the world's hero is the gratification of a selfish ambition, at the sacrifice of ennobling principle for the sole purpose of securing the homage of the lauding populace. The object of the true moral hero is the glory of God, and welfare of men. The former seeks to enthrone and deify human might and ingenuity, the latter to conceal, and put in the far background the human, and assign to the proper place, the divine element of true heroism.—God's power through human instruments.

Who has failed to see something in the life and character of Abraham far surpassing anything in the records of human greatness? When called out to offer his only son as a sacrifice to God, he came in contact with some of the strongest passions of the human soul; parental affection—the bond of the race, and the unseen end. The natural was brought into subjection to the higher law of God. To conquer the opposing circumstances in the way of God's glory, that he might become the father of the faithful, was an achievement which the world never understood, and more signal than any ever achieved on the battle-field or on the road to literary eminence.

The world had never been blessed with an illustrious example of patience until the army of opposition and discouragements were driven back by Job's death-like grasp on the living Redeemer. "Though thou slay me, yet will I trust in thee,"—this very willingness to die proved the vanquishment of all his foes.

The fixed and unchanging purpose of Daniel and the Hebrew children to be true to the living God, was even master of the king of beasts, and proved an extinguisher of "the violence of fire."

Pre-eminent in true heroism stands the noble St. Paul, the vessel of the gospel to the Gentiles. If ever the combined forces of earth and hell were directed on a single man, it was on Paul. But his foot was planted on a rock, the Rock of ages, his heart was fixed to go at the call of his Master, whether that call led to Jerusalem to await bonds, imprisonment, or death, or in the gladsome mission of feeding the hungry with the bread of life. We are well acquainted with his victory shout as he fell on the field: "I have fought the good fight," etc. The gospel had in him an able advocate, and his writings will be a sacred legacy to the church for all time to come.

In all these examples there is a daring and unchanging purpose linked with the omnipotence of faith and confidence in God, and these constitute true heroes. The object of worldly heroism being self-agrandizement and personal fame, the road to these necessarily lies across the rights and safety of the helpless and unarmed.

Had the world a fair and impartial view of the moral phase of the principles and motives which prompt these heroes, it would tend to rob them of much of their glory. Men in public positions often dream that the chief end to be attained is the applause of their special friends, forgetting the public good. Thus they become the tools of cunning intrigues until they are accomplices in the most daring acts of corruption and dishonesty. Now in such characters there is not a single element of the true hero. The brave man would stand up in opposition to the solicitations to corruption around him, and in God conquer.

In social life there is much need of being heroic—evil and destructive habits threaten the church, and the individual. To yield to these, and be led to the block, is the tamest cowardice.

The heralds of the cross must have the courage to raise the alarm, and Zion's host the daring to enter the field and vanquish sin. The evergreen laurels of God's blessedness will be the crown of all his true and loyal heroes, and this will surely be enough for us to all eternity, but let us not forget that before the victory is celebrated, there comes the struggle for the mastery.—Rev. I. M. Pines, in Evang'l Messenger.