Lance Armstrong is–or was–the greatest cyclist of all time. He won the Tour de France, the greatest cycling race, nine times. He even came back from cancer to win the Tour. Lance Armstrong was a hero to people the world over. As long as Lance Armstrong raced in the Tour de France, I got up each July morning to turn on the TV to learn how he was doing. The newspapers gave the results each day for the various stages of the race. Lance Armstrong and the yellow leader’s jersey were synonomous.

Now, Lance Armstrong has apparently admitted to taking proformance enhancing drugs. His interview of over two hours will soon air on Oprah. What a disappointment.

Almost 100 years ago the Black Sox Scandal hit Major League Baseball. One of the players who “threw” the World Series was a great player named “Shoeless” Joe Jackson. After hearing the disappointing news about the White Sox, one little boy reportedly said to his hero: “Say it ain’t so, Joe.”

I wonder how many little kids or full grown men are taking off their yellow “Live Strong” armbands after learning that their hero cheated.

Kids need heroes. They need people they can believe in and look up to. I certainly had my heroes–Mickey Mantle and Superman. I read almost every Superman comic book. Because Superman believed in “Truth, justice, and the American Way,” I did as well.

Where will today’s heroes come from?

They seem to be hard to find.

Let me give some suggestions for heroes.

First, determine to care about children and give them a postive role model. You probably can’t think of yourself as a hero, but you can love justice, do mercy, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). Along the way, someone will be following–maybe your own child.

Second, remind children where they can truly put their trust. Point them to God and His unchanging goodness.

Finally, take a Joshua mentality. Joshua vowed: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). Children–and adults–are looking for someone to take a stand. You and I probably can’t be world-class athletes, but we can be people of integrity. We can encourage right behavior and right attitudes for the people around us.

Sometimes, that’s all the hero we need.

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