Today's Role Models

Posted October 26, 2007

A commentary by Chad Messerly

Remember the good old days when people who were famous and popular stood up for justice and accomplished amazing things? No? Well, I don't either!

Anyone younger than 30 has grown up with popular "heroes" who check into rehab on a weekly basis or get married and divorced just as frequently, if they bother to marry at all. Actors, musicians and athletes have become the center of attention as our heroes in the 21st century. Today's role models are associated with money, beauty and fame.

One of my biggest pet peeves while watching the news is that, in between the coverage of the war in Iraq and Iran's nuclear threat, we hear Hollywood's latest soap opera. The superstars of this world have become so "important" that their marital and drug problems are covered alongside the actual important issues of the world.

Strange as it may seem to some, there really is a devil who influences the world to view wrong behaviors as acceptable and fun. That fallen angel can make anything sinful look good and has done so throughout time. There is a scripture that describes him as "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2).

Satan manipulates and influences people's moods and attitudes toward his evil ways literally through the air, with television, radio and any other form of electronic media. The scripture was written long before electronics were invented, yet it shows that we must guard our minds from the devil's influence.

This powerful demon is the master of making evil look sexy and adventurous. He will use anything he can to lead us astray from God's standard and way of living. This is not to say that everything that comes from the media is bad or wrong, but we must sift carefully and think through what we should or should not let into our minds. After all, our minds are precious gifts from God.

The meaning of "role model" from Dictionary.com is "a person whose behavior, example, or success is or can be emulated by others, esp. by younger people." A good role model is someone we should want to be like and strive to mimic because we see value in his or her actions. If we emulate a good role model's actions, maybe we, too, can share in his or her success.

The true role model Jesus Christ explains, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12). Christ promises us the path to true success, which will result in salvation if we follow Him. His willingness to sacrifice Himself makes the salvation of eternal life possible for all mankind. His life on earth was recorded in the Bible so we could understand and follow the same way of life He lived. His actions, as the ultimate role model, were perfect from the day He was born to the day of His human death.

This does not mean that we should avoid other role models in our lives but that our role models should possess some of the characteristics of Christ. Do the superstars of today possess the characteristics of Christ or do they follow the influences of the world? Read an extreme lesson about right role models in "Just for Youth...Advice From Death Row."

There will be a time when you will be a role model to someone. How do you want to be seen, and what characteristics do you want to possess? It is vital that, as the younger generation of today, we become the strong role models for tomorrow. VT