Almost every story has a hero and a villain. For the most part we love the hero and despise the villain. In general we like to be the hero because they usually create a happy ending.
The Bible has many stories, and we can see heroes in those stories. One of the favourites is even widely known and referenced even by those who do not believe in God: The story of David and Goliath.
The Philistines and Israelites were squaring off in battle. A challenge came up from the Philistines that a champion from each side would fight to the death. The Philistine champion was a giant named Goliath. A huge, strong, dangerous man. The Israelites ran from him in terror. But the teenaged shepherd boy, David, stepped up and we see this ending in 1 Samuel 17:48-50, “As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.”
Who is the hero? We tend to say that it was David. And then we bravely state that we would be just like David to slay the Goliaths in our lives.
We put ourselves into the shoes of Moses, David, and Jesus – but that couldn’t be further than the truth. Seriously, would I have really fared any better than the Israelites facing a giant in battle? You and I are not the hero of our story. I’m not the hero of my own story. If left to my own decisions and devices, I would be doomed. But thank God, we don’t have to be.
Even David didn’t consider himself to be the great hero and Saviour according to 1 Samuel 17:45–47 (NIV): “David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.””
We need to trust in God, through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ won the victory over the greatest enemies: sin and death. We are saved by him from God’s judgment, from the consequences of our sin and have been gifted eternal life. The Holy Spirit works in our hearts and minds to change us. God gives us the Bible to guide us. Jesus is building The Church, our family in which we can find comfort and mutual benefit.