Lin Hao the Hero

I do not know how much you have watched the Olympics, but I have watched most of what I could catch (a little here and a lot there). There are some sports I enjoy watching more than others: judo, taekwondo, gymnastics, swimming to name a few.

With all of the great stories and events happening in China, the one story that still ignites me is the story of the young boy who marched out with Yao Ming. The young boy (9 years old) was a survivor of the awful earthquake that hit just a few weeks prior to the start of the Olympics.

This young boy was not chosen because he had survived. He was chosen for an act of heroism. He was the class leader (due to his academic achievement). Each class in China elects a class leader who helps maintain a positive example to his classmates, and the position is held as a great honor. Very communist in truth but honorable in their eyes.

After the earthquake which trapped him and his fellow students, he dug himself out. Yet becuase of a sense of duty he turned around and started digging his fellow students out - because as Lin Hao said, "I'm the class leader. One can't be a class leader without classmates." 9 years old! Only 10 of his classmates survived, and 2 were rescued by him.

I have been reading through 1 Corinthians in my daily reading. The other day I read, "If I gave everything to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would be of no value whatsoever." (13:3)

I remember a plane crash in Washington D.C. in the 1980s. The flight crashed in the river nose down leaving the tail sticking out of the water. Many people should have drowned that day but a military officer happened to be on the flight. Tired and cold, he continually returned back into the wreckage and fished survivors out of the freezing water (it was winter, and snow was everywhere). Eventually survivors stopped emerging from the aircraft. The rest had perished. The officer had also succumbed to the cold and died.

Again and again acts of heroism are celebrated in our cultures because these acts meant life to those who benefited from the help. What an awesome feeling I get when I hear these stories.

However, celebrations do not just happen on earth. Look at what Luke says,

"I tell you that in the same way there will be rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." (Luke 15:7, NIV)

Jesus says there will rejoicing in heaven over just one who turns from sin. Does this happen with every person? I think so. The whole of salvation is a cause for celebration. If Christians have real hope and faith in the return of Jesus, then they have a part in that celebration. Heroism becomes a part of our everyday life as people are rescued from eternal punishment.

James says it this way:

My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God's truth, don't write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God. James 5:19-20 (MSG)

Everyday young adults make the decision to leave church behind. In fact, Lifeway research says 70% of 18 year olds quit church by the age of 23! Some of the reasons given are "they want a break", "church is too judgmental", "they moved away", or "too busy with work."

70% sounds like an epidemic to me. So are you ready to become a part of the solution? Are you too tired or are you ready to fish out one more person from the wreckage?

Here is Lin Hao's story: