In fact, the more famous you become the harder it is to cultivate and retain virtue. Being a hero is something entirely different than being a celebrity. Celebrities are just people with good looks, talent, money, and the ability to draw attention to themselves. Heroes are people who stand courageously for what is right, often against the tide of public opinion, and at great cost to themselves. People like Pete Rose, Sylvester Stallone, Magic Johnson, Dan Rostenkowski and an endless parade of others have proven long on image and short on character, just as many faithful servants of God have been short on image and long on character.
Politicians are celebrities.
But if they steal from the country, cheat on their wives, and promote the ruthless killing of unborn children, no one in their right mind can consider them heroes. Consider Simpson's history over the last decade. Since the killing, a lot of people, including some of his friends, have changed their mind about O. J. Simpson. When you and I stand before God and give an account of our lives, the ability to run with a football or manage a company or write a newsletter article will mean nothing. Our dependence on Christ to cleanse us of our sins and empower us to a new way of living will mean everything.